Leeds 2 - Millers 0

Last updated : 22 August 2018 By Millersmad

Leeds maintained their impressive unbeaten start to the season with a 2-0 Yorkshire derby victory at home to rivals Rotherham.

Goals from Luke Ayling and leading scorer Kemar Roofe did the damage as Marcelo Bielsa's team made it three successive league victories and four in all competitions.

Defender Ayling headed the home side into a 49th-minute lead before Roofe put the contest beyond doubt with a clinical 72nd-minute finish. 

Amazingly it was right-back Ayling's first Leeds goal and first goal for nearly three and a half years having last scored in April 2015, playing for Bristol City when then demolished Bradford 6-0. And for Roofe it was a third goal in four games to continue to what has so far been a fine start to the season.

Millers boss Paul Warne made eight changes to his starting line-up from Tuesday night's 3-1 home win over Wigan, while opposite number Bielsa also made eight changes from his team which beat Bolton 2-1 at Elland Road in midweek.

 
Luke Ayling was on the scoresheet for Leeds United against Rotherham

And the Whites started brightly when Kalvin Phillips blasted high and wide for the hosts after only four minutes. Roofe also went close to opening the scoring with a right-footed drive from the edge of the box.

Keeper Marek Rodak saved easily from Spanish forward Samuel Saiz as Leeds maintained their sustained pressure, but it was the Millers who should have taken the lead.

Shot-stopper Bailey Peacock-Farrell produced a fine point-blank save to deny winger Ryan Williams after skipper Liam Cooper had carelessly given the ball away in his own penalty area. Ayling rifled a left-foot shot just wide of the right post as the game hotted up.

However, just a minute later and the visitors were desperately unlucky not to score when midfielder Jon Taylor's blistering strike rattled the inside of the left upright.

Lone striker Michael Smith then teed up midfielder Matthew Palmer on the edge of the box but he disappointingly blazed his shot over.

At the other end, Polish playmaker Mateusz Klich shot wide of the left post, while midfielder Will Vaulks had a rasping goalbound shot charged down just outside the area for the Millers.

Rodak denied Swiss defender Gaetano Berardi with an athletic fingertip save on the stroke of half-time as it finished goalless at the break.

Kemar Roofe celebrates scoring Leeds' second goal of the game at Elland Road

The Whites had the perfect start to the second half. Rodak blocked Cooper's goalbound header and Roofe should have powered home the rebound.

But Ayling was on hand to head home, although referee Robert Jones had to check the ball had crossed the line before deservedly awarding the home side the lead.

Roofe then had a shot charged down and Saiz saw his close-range shot brilliantly headed off the line by Millers' skipper Richard Wood. But not long after Roofe pounced to double the home side's lead in the 72 minute and the job was done.

Debutant Ryan Manning came off the substitute's bench to force Peacock-Farrell into a save, but it was little too late for the visitors.