Welcome to live coverage of Leeds United's Championship clash with Luton Town at Elland Road. Kick-off in West Yorkshire is 7.45pm with team news dropping at 6.45pm from both Daniel Farke and Rob Edwards.
The Whites return to Elland Road with 32 points from 16 matches after a very good start to the season with only two defeats since August 10. United frustrated a little in their opening stalemates, but Burnley and Millwall blips aside, this has quickly turned into a very encouraging set of results, underpinned by their stout defence.
Meanwhile, the Hatters begin the night's fixtures 16th in the league table with 18 points from their opening 16 matches, comprising five wins, three draws and eight losses. The Bedfordshire outfit are in improving form with one defeat in their last four games.
The two teams last met here in June 2020, when it finished 1-1 in the Championship. It was during the first lockdown and Marcelo Bielsa's Whites were chasing down the league title. Follow the latest from Beren Cross in the blog below.
Key Events
Full-time: Whites 3-0 Luiton
GOAL - Whites
Second half underway
Half-time: Whites 2-0 Luton
GOAL - Whites
Beren Cross
Hearing from Farke very shortly
Daniel Farke's Leeds United press conference is taking place at Elland Road after tonight's clash with Luton Town. Follow everything the manager has to say about Wednesday night's match below as we bring you most of the questions and answers in full from the debrief.
Before the match, Farke made one change to the side that beat Swansea City three days ago. Despite setting up three goals in Wales, Daniel James was taken out of the team to make way for Wilfried Gnonto's return.
The Italian missed his first line-up on Sunday, but came back in down the right. Largie Ramazani continued on the bench too, while Manor Solomon was given the chance to build in his weekend brace.
The first half was something of a procession for the hosts, who would have wanted a bigger lead than two goals for their dominance. Sam Byram scored the goal of his career with an early scissor kick before Joel Piroe hit the second on the stroke of half-time.
The second half saw Daniel James add a third. Follow everything the manager has to say below.
Follow him here
Beren Cross
Player ratings
1 Illan Meslier
Another game spent as a virtual spectator. Looked awkward as he tried to deal with one of the few moments of danger Luton created. Off his line without any real conviction or confidence and it only made it easier for Victor Moses to chip him. 6
2 Jayden Bogle
Solid evening without any issues for the right-back. Some neat passes into the final third and offered an extra man in the final third as Luton retreated. 7
6 Joe Rodon
A fairly quiet evening for the Wales international. Dealt with everything in his path, but calm and collected. 7
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90+6minKEY EVENT
Full-time: Whites 3-0 Luiton
Been over for some time, but the three points are confirmed and Leeds go back to the top of the table. Poor opposition, but Leeds dealt with them very well.
Guilavogui and Ramazani got some minutes late on too.
81minKEY EVENT
GOAL - Whites
JAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMES!
Confidence off the charts for James. Bogle flights a simple ball over the top. James latches onto it, holds off the defender and lobs the goalkeeper. 3-0.
76minBeren Cross
Adebayo checks if Meslier is asleep
A rare attack for Luton. Towering Adebayo gets his head on a corner and it's marginally over the bar. A third goal would just calm everyone down a touch.
69minBeren Cross
Changes for Leeds as they hunt third goal
James and Joseph are on for Piroe and Gnonto. Leeds upping their level in this half. Still feels like it's coming.
Wober looking chipper tonight and happy to roam forward.
59minBeren Cross
A Leeds change and another chance
Bogle finds Aaronson down the right channel. American collects, does well and then rolls a low cross into the box. Slightly behind Piroe, who has to spin on the ball, but then gets crowded out.
Meanwhile, Byram is off for Wober. No sign of a limp. Brief discussion with Farke as he goes past.
53minBeren Cross
Tanaka has a tame pop from range
Leeds a little more ragged so far in this half. Luton seeing a touch more territory.
Gnonto does well on the right, glides by a few challenges and then squares to Tanaka. Tame effort, but keeps Kaminski honest.
46minKEY EVENT
Second half underway
No changes for either side. Leeds now attacking the Revie Stand. A third should see this out. Luton simply have to change what they have been doing to stand any chance here.
45+3minKEY EVENT
Half-time: Whites 2-0 Luton
A chasm between these two teams and thankfully Leeds have the goals to show for it. It should, as so many times this season, be a bigger margin, but Piroe's goal was perfectly timed and should now see Leeds home.
They are in another league to this Luton team, which looks shot to pieces after weeks of misery.
45+1minKEY EVENT
GOAL - Whites
PIROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOE!
A crucial second on the stroke of half-time. Struijk headed a corner off the Luton post, and Piroe was following up to lash it home. Even Farke allowed himself a celebration for that one. The striker's seventh of the season.
42minKEY EVENT
Best chance since the goal-line clearance for Luton
Morris finds Burke unmarked and attacking the far post. Heads the ball into the ground and wide. Leeds fell asleep at the initial throw-in and Luton could have had a better look if Brown had done better with a pass into Krauss down the channel.
39minBeren Cross
Second goal feels like a matter of time
Leeds are utterly dominant here. Wave after wave of attacks. When one breaks down another starts up with the centre-backs. Solomon showing speed and guile down the left and serving up the opportunities tonight. Gnonto lively and often the man attacking that service. Byram attacking at will too.
29minBeren Cross
Gnonto forces another save after good work by Solomon
The Israeli finds space down the left flank to burst into again. Chops inside. Finds Gnonto, who takes it in stride and prods at goal, but a comfortable save.
Chances seem to be flowing for Leeds. They keep finding openings. Luton can't lay a glove as it stands.
24minBeren Cross
Aaronson has to pull the trigger but messes up
Mengi air-kicks the ball and it releases Piroe down the left. Dutch striker weights a perfect pass into the space for Aaronson to run onto. Space in the box to shoot, but tries to set Gnonto up and fudges it. Cleared. Hands over his mouth in despair. Crowd shouting for him to shoot too.
18minKEY EVENT
Struijk clears off the line from Moses
Leeds just take their eye off the ball for a moment and allow Victor Moses too much space to get through the centre via a one-two with Clark. Rodon was caught flat-footed, and Meslier was awkward again in his approach. Allows a clipped shot over him, but Struijk was at full stretch on the line to clear.
12minBeren Cross
Gary Speed remembered
Gary Speed's name rings out around all sides of Elland Road on the anniversary of his death. The South Stand keeps it going for several more minutes too.
Leeds in total control here and the goal has only boosted their confidence further.
10minKEY EVENT
GOAL - Whites
BYRAAAAAAAAM!
A scissor-kick from the full-back. Lovely interplay between him, Tanaka and Solomon down the left. They work it into the box. Byram's first effort is blocked, but the rebound sits up beautifully enough for him to scissor it into the back of the net.
Think Di Canio, think Van Basten, think Gnonto.
1minKEY EVENT
Kick-off
We're underway at Elland Road.
Leeds are attacking the South Stand. Gnonto down the right as expected.
Beren Cross
More on the team news
Daniel Farke has made one alteration to the Leeds United squad that defeated Swansea City, for the match against Luton Town. Daniel James is benched to make room for Wilfried Gnonto's comeback, even though he assisted three goals in Wales.
This season, Joe Rodon and Gnonto have received four yellow cards. They will have to balance the suspension tightrope from the beginning of the game. Rodon is the only Leeds player still on to start every game across all competitions this season as a result of the selection.
Alex Cairns is still with the team, but is not included on the team sheet. Sam Allison will officiate tonight's match against the Hatters with help from Andrew Fox, Darren Williams, and fourth official Tom Reeves.
Read more here
KEY EVENT
Team news - Luton
KEY EVENT
Team news - Whites
Beren Cross
Five things to look out for
Does Gnonto get back in?
It was a bold move by Daniel Farke to rotate Wilfried Gnonto out of the line-up on Sunday. While he might have planned for the Italian to come straight back in tonight, it looks a lot trickier after some good performances in Wales.
Daniel James created three goals and Manor Solomon bagged twice. Surely, they cannot now be rotated with their confidence sky-high and the latter finally building some momentum in white.
The alternative is playing Gnonto through the centre in Brenden Aaronson’s place. The American has struggled to retain a high level of late, but he does have a natural inclination to drop deeper and help the midfielders out.
Read more here
Beren Cross
Good evening
Welcome to our live coverage of Leeds United's clash with Luton Town at Elland Road. Stay tuned as we bring you all of the build-up, action and reaction from the stadium tonight as the Whites look to climb back to the top of the table.
