Leeds United 6 Stoke City 0 live: Reaction with Whites on brink, Joel Piroe scores four, Harry Gray debut

Leeds United could set themselves up for Monday night promotion today with this afternoon’s enormous Championship visit of Stoke City to Elland Road.

Here, upon landing at LS11, we will bring you all of the pre-match build-up followed by in-game updates and analysis before post-match reaction. The 3pm kick-off is being broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Ultra HDR.

Leeds will seal promotion if victory against Stoke is followed by a Sheffield United draw or defeat in their 5.30pm kick-off at Turf Moor. Due to their far superior goal difference, a draw against Stoke would realistically be enough if the Blades then lose at Burnley.

Back in front!

More cheers here as Burnley go back ahead! Brownhill from the penalty spot

A twist

Blades draw level. 1-1.

A massive cheer!

From folk still inside and moreover outside Elland Road as Burnley take the lead! Josh Brownhill in the 28th minute. Meantime, here’s the Leeds United player ratings...

Full time!

Incredible. What a display. Almost there - possibly in two hours’ time.

Here we go!

Here comes Harry Gray! On for Aaronson for his debut.

Tense, will we see?

Harry Gray - ten minutes left, he’s looking over at Farke and Farke looks like he is thinking about one more change but we shall see. Maybe right at the end.

More changes

Byram and Schmidt waiting to come on. Bogle - brilliant - and Firpo - also good - both off.

Leeds subs

Bamford and Ramazani coming on. Piroe and Gnonto off. Standing ovation as Piroe makes way. Big cheers for Bamford and for Ramazani too. And now a loud Bamford chant. Could see him scoring here. More good work from Bogle as Stoke come forward, full pace tracking back and an interception for a throw. Chance for Leeds beforehand as Solomon played in Firpo, low shot saved.

GOOOAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!! IT’S SIX!

Gnonto header from a brilliant Solomon cross, great movement from Gnonto too

Triple change at the break

For Stoke. Not surprisingly, early chance for them as Al-Hamadi gets into the box but fires into the side netting. Leeds soon back attacking and Solomon low shot is fumbled but saved by Johansson, Bogle arrives on the scene as Stoke clear but smashes shot over the bar, deserves a goal

Half time - Leeds United FIVE Stoke City 0 - just incredible

In an absolute cauldron of noise, Leeds got off to a brilliant start as a strong tackle by Ilia Gruev paved the way for Joel Piroe to net a sixth-minute opener.

As Stoke got themselves in bother on the edge of the Leeds box, Willy Gnonto played in Manor Solomon who supplied a pinpoint cutback to Piroe and the Dutchman applied a clinical first-time low finish to send Elland Road wild.

But even wilder scenes followed just two minutes later as Piroe quickly doubled his tally in very similar fashion, this time from a low Jayden Bogle.

More energetic pressing proved the key as Bogle stole the ball down the right and made his way into the box before producing a similar cutback to Solomon's, from which Piroe applied a similarly clinical low finish to spark almost unbelievable celebrations.

Stoke were 2-0 down inside eight minutes and the Potters tried to respond but just couldn't although Whites biss Daniel Farke was left fuming when referee Darren Bond booked Ethan Ampadu for a challenge on the touchline.

But more Whites celebrations quickly followed as Piroe incredibly netted again to wrap up a hat-trick with just 20 minutes on the clock.

This time Willy Gnonto was the provider, the Italian getting a second bite at a cross from the right which found Piroe who was in no mood to miss, the Dutchman stabbing the ball into the roof of the net to complete a three goal inside 20 minutes having gone nine games without getting one.

Stoke were getting walloped and it then got even worse for them as brilliant work from Bogle led to Junior Firpo bagging a fourth Whites goal with just 26 minutes on the clock.

Bogle, who looked a man on a mission, burst into the box from the right, skinning his man before sending in a low cross towards Firpo who managed to apply a looping finish into the back of the net.

After a brief period of Whites relent, Leeds squandered a fine chance to bag a fifth as Gnonto got the byline before sending in a low cross which flew through the area and only needed a touch to finish.

Firpo then got in down the left but saw his shot deflected behind for a corner from which Gnonto was only denied by a smart save from Viktor Johansson which kept out his half volley that was destined for the bottom left corner.

But a fifth Whites goal looked imminent and it duly arrived in the 41st minute as Piroe sensationally bagged his fourth after supern work from Bogle.

This time the right back took down a cross from Gruev in one neat movement and rifled in a rocket of a shot which smashed back off the post and hit Piroe in the face.

Piroe, though, was still able to recover and get a shot away which trickled into the bottom left corner, Brenden Aaronson narrowly failing to get a touch on the ball as it crossed the line.

Leeds were 5-0 up after 41 minutes and chants of "we want six" echoed from the terraces as four minutes of added time were announced.

Instead, Stoke went close to bagging the game's sixth goal from a rare break as Bae Jun-Ho unleashed a decent low drive which flew just wide of the left hand post.

But the contest was already clearly done and Leeds left the pitch at the half-time break to a standing ovation and huge cheers with the club on the cusp of a Premier League return.

“We want six”

Is the chant as 4 minutes of added time are announced.

GOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL!!! IT’S FIVE!!!!!

And it’s four for Piroe!!! Bizarre goal, amazing take down by Bogle to a Gruev cross, smashes a shot at goal which smashes back off the post - rebound hits Piroe in the face but ball drops at his feet and he still manages to get a shot away which trickles in the bottom left, Aaronson almost got a touch on it but not quite, maybe a slight touch from defender Burger but Piroe’s goal.

Bogle

Has been superb, a rare Stoke attack is ended as he hares back to mop up the danger.

Chances for more

After a brief period of Whites relent, Leeds squandered a fine chance to bag a fifth as Gnonto got the byline before sending in a low cross which flew through the area and only needed a touch to finish. Firpo then got in down the left but saw his shot deflected behind for a corner from which Gnonto was only denied by a smart save from Viktor Johansson which kept out his half volley that was destined for the bottom left corner.

GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!

4-0!!!! Firpo the scorer but Bogle the architect with incredible pace and skill to get into the box, skin his man and cross for Firpo who sort of bundled the ball home with a looping finish. This could be anything, Leeds look like scoring every time they get forward.

GOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL!!!!

PIROE HAT TRICK!!! Incredible!!! A hat-trick inside 20 minutes. More ferocious pressing. Gnonto this time the provider, gets the ball in the box on the left, first cross blocked, gets a second chance, low delivery to Piroe who stabs the ball home.

Farke fuming

Yellow card for Ampadu for lunging into a late tackle on the touchline. Looked a bit harsh.

Leeds rampant

So much energy to the way they press when Stoke have the ball, pushing for a third and the noise is incredible. Aaronson had the chance for a third as he got to the byline but low cross gathered by Johansson.

GOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL!!!!! AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

9: INCREDIBLE!!!! Stoke just cannot deal with the Leeds press. Bogle steals the ball down the right, gets to the edge of the box, pulls the ball back for Piroe - similar to Solomon cutback - and another first time clinical finish, amazing.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

7: Joel Piroe!!!!! Elland Road erupts!! Stoke. Clinical finish from a Solomon cutback into the box, after Gnonto played Solomon in down the left. Gruev tackle got Leeds going with Stoke soon in trouble as they looked to clear.

What a noise!

Underway at Elland Road. Teams swap ends, Leeds attacking the Kop end first half, an absolute cauldron of noise - and Stoke’s fans are doing their bit too. Amadu and Darlow songs both get an early airing.

All set Elland Road

A loud roar as Leeds head back in after their warm ups. It feels more like excitement and expectation rather than trepidation and nerves. At the moment anyway!

Big day

For 16-year-old Harry Gray. Warm ups underway, an extra loud cheer and applause for the players as they enter the field of play.

Not risked

Dan James says Farke after ‘awareness’ in his hamstring following reappearance at Oxford. Farke did say afterwards that he wasn’t sure if James would be able to start. But doesn’t even make the bench. An undoubted blow.

Unchanged

Leeds United v Stoke City: Darlow; Bogle, Rodon, Ampadu, Firpo; Tanaka, Gruev; Gnonto, Solomon, Aaronson, Piroe. Harry Gray makes the bench.

Subs: Meslier, Byram, Schmidt, Wober, Guilavogui, Ramazani, Gray, Joseph, Bamford.

Harry Gray

One of four Leeds players to check out the pitch in the arrivals along with Joel Piroe, Jayden Bogle and captain Ethan Ampadu. A hoods up kinda day. Gray looked very relaxed, taking it all in his stride.

Leeds arrivals, Harry Gray here...but.....

Harry Gray is here with the squad. BUT. No Dan James. Farke said he was a doubt to start after just returning from hamstring injury. But a shock that he is missing altogether.

The weather, bring a brolly

Lashing it down at Elland Road - and not particularly warm - hopefully a case of singing in the rain as not forecast to stop.

Just win

There’s lots of ways of working out what might or might not happen - not just today but over the final three games - but regardless of what happens tonight at Burnley, victory here against Stoke would put Leeds up to 94 points and on the cusp of promotion. A draw might be enough to seal Monday night promotion if Burnley then beat Sheffield United - which there must be a strong chance of - but, as ever, Leeds just need to take care of their own business first. Stoke, unbeaten in their last five under Mark Robins, will be no pushovers. But Leeds are very long odds-on favourites here and really ought to get the job done. Sheffield United are more than capable of winning at Burnley but it’s a big ask given the Clarets’ form and I think the general feeling is that most people feel that today is promotion day. Or tonight, would be talking around 7.30pm after the Burnley v Blades 5.30pm kick-off. It is, though, as we all know, rarely as simple as that. Arrivals at around 1.30pm and team news at 2pm. Harry Gray reportedly with the squad today.

Greetings from Elland Road!

Leeds team news

Boss Daniel Farke has said checks would be needed on wingers Dan James and Manor Solomon ahead of this afternoon’s tight turnaround against Stoke on the back of Friday night’s 1-0 win at Oxford United.

James returned from a hamstring injury as a 76th-minute substitute in the contest in which Solomon went off with cramps with three minutes left.

Joe Rothwell remains out with a calf injury whilst Pascal Struijk’s season is over due to a foot fracture. Youngster Sam Chambers is also out due to being ill.

Predicted Leeds line up: Darlow; Bogle, Rodon, Ampadu, Firpo; Tanaka, Gruev; Gnonto, Solomon, Aaronson, Piroe.