Final Score: Stoke City 0 – Leeds United 2 in Championship Match

In a thrilling encounter, Joel Piroe lit up the night with a stunning brace, propelling Leeds United to the Championship summit while extending Stoke City‘s grim winless streak to nine matches.

The prodigious Dutch striker, now with nine goals under his belt, spearheaded Leeds to only their second away victory in eight attempts, fully capitalizing on Sheffield United‘s unexpected slip against Burnley earlier in the day.

Amidst a bone-chilling night shrouded in freezing fog in the Potteries, Stoke’s lackluster display deepened the frustration felt by their supporters.

Narcis Pelach’s Potters now find themselves precariously just three points clear of the relegation zone, managing a dismal three wins in their last 18 games since the Spanish tactician surprisingly stepped in for the sacked Steven Schumacher back in mid-September.

Even with the harsh fog making visibility a challenge for those in attendance, it was abundantly clear that Leeds were the side most likely to seize the moment right from the opening whistle.

A blistering run from Wales international Dan James ignited the action as Stoke defender Ben Wilmot’s clearance narrowly missed its intended target, adding drama to the proceedings.

Brenden Aaronson sought to find the back of the net with a well-placed right-footed shot from outside the box, only to be thwarted by Stoke goalkeeper Viktor Johansson, who made a spectacular save.

Yet the breakthrough came just three minutes before half-time when Ethan Ampadu orchestrated a splendid move, threading the ball through to Piroe in the inside-left channel. The Dutchman’s impressive footwork allowed him to dodge Johansson’s challenge, regaining possession and firing a magnificent screamer into the roof of the net.

The lead doubled on the 63rd minute, again courtesy of Piroe. This time, James, who drifted elegantly into space on the left, delivered a pinpoint cross that Piroe met with an expert nod from close range.

As both teams prepare for their next matches on Sunday, the stakes will only get higher. Stoke will host fourth-placed Sunderland in a crucial afternoon clash, while Leeds will aim to maintain their momentum as they travel to face Derby County in a highly anticipated tea-time kick-off (17:45 GMT).

In the aftermath of the match, Stoke City’s manager Narcis Pelach voiced his thoughts on BBC Radio Stoke:

“Leeds have a lot of quality. They have very fast players and can be dangerous, as they showed.

“I’m pleased with the effort. We connected with the fans in the stadium – but then they scored their second goal.

“We use a back four or a back five, depending on the opponents. I don’t think that is having a negative effect.

“We find ourselves now in a place with less confidence, which will test our dynamics. We have to put this to bed quickly.”

On the other hand, Leeds United’s Daniel Farke shared his thoughts with BBC Radio Leeds:

“It was a good win and a good performance. Not one of our shiniest. We should have shown more cutting edge, but we had control.

“The games are coming thick and fast though, so you can’t complain about an away win and a clean sheet.

“I am older than my players and have been through such situations so I didn’t really feel any added pressure about going top tonight.

“But it’s the first time my players have come under this sort of pressure. We don’t have many title winners in our team, so they dealt with it well.”