Leeds United 3-0 Luton Town: Leeds go top of Championship table

Leeds had fallen from top spot to fourth after Tuesday’s results, but a sixth win in eight matches sent them straight back to the summit on goal difference above Sheffield United, and they did so with a display which deserved a more convincing scoreline.

A fifth successive away defeat leaves 16th-placed Luton just three points above the relegation places, a run in which they have conceded 16 goals and scored just once.

The Hatters’ besieged defence were pulled this way and that by waves of slick attacks as Leeds bossed the first half, hogging almost 80% of possession.

Yet after Byram’s 13th career league goal, Rob Edwards’ side almost equalised out of nothing. A neat one-two allowed Victor Moses to chip the advancing Illan Meslier from an acute angle, but Struijk’s acrobatic goalline clearance spared his goalkeeper’s blushes.

The hosts continued to threaten, with Wilfried Gnonto’s sidefooted finish forcing Kaminski into a low save, but once more Luton went close from a rare sight of goal.

Reece Burke sent a free header wide at the far post instead of finding team-mates lurking in the six-yard box, and just moments later Piroe lashed in his seventh of the season.

The one-way traffic continued after the break, with Piroe’s goalbound shot on the turn blocked, but with Leeds having failed to find a killer third, Luton boss Edwards made attacking changes.

One of them, Elijah Adebayo, headed a gilt-edged chance just over with 14 minutes left – from Luton’s first corner – and it was a Leeds substitute, James, who then delivered the knockout blow.