Leeds 3-1 Swansea: Daniel Farke’s side maintain their unbeaten home run despite an early scare… with goals from Joel Piroe, Georginio Rutter and Daniel James

Daniel Farke has made a big deal of turning Elland Road into a fortress as the cornerstone of any Leeds United promotion push.

When Swansea took a surprise second-minute lead, it looked as though their defences may be breached.

But this Leeds side seem to draw confidence from the big crowds here and goals by Joel Piroe, Georginio Rutter and Dan James earned a necessary win to remain on the coattails of top two Leicester and Ipswich.

Leeds are the only Championship team with an unbeaten home record this season and this was their sixth consecutive home success.

That matched a streak from the 2019-20 season, when Marcelo Bielsa led them into the Premier League. They’ll hope that represents some kind of good omen.

When Swansea took a second-minute lead, it looked like their defences had been breached

However, Joel Piroe turned things around by scoring an equaliser in the fourth minute

Swansea were the equal of Leeds for much of the first-half but quality prevailed and the sight of old boys Piroe and James scoring against them wouldn’t have been pleasant for a side who’ve now won just one in seven.

‘The start was ridiculous and I thought it could be a really long day in the office,’ said Farke. ‘We conceded a goal out of nothing and Swansea are a good footballing side who are good on the counter.

‘It was a difficult and complicated game but we didn’t lose our nerve and we were able to turn the game with two fantastic goals. The second half was more impressive.’

Swans boss Michael Duff said: ‘It was a disappointing evening in terms of the result but the performance was really good.

‘Ultimately we conceded poor goals at poor times and that was the killer. We asked the players to show personality and bravery, we played through them a lot and we have been undone by Premier League quality.’

The match started in explosive fashion with two goals scored – and another disallowed – inside the opening four minutes.

The appreciation for former Leeds manager Terry Venables had barely died down by the time Leeds had the ball in the net after just 40 seconds.

Rutter surprised Swansea down the left and his cross was turned home by Dan James at the back stick, only for celebrations to be cut short by a raised flag.

Georginio Rutter gave Leeds the advantage by finding the back of the net before the break

Daniel James extended their lead in the 61st minute and closed out the game for Leeds

There was hardly time to blink before Swansea did actually open the scoring. A hopeful Josh Key long ball from the right touchline wasn’t dealt with by Pascal Struijk, whose attempted defensive header inadvertently played Paterson clear beyond Joe Rodon.

Full marks to Paterson for his deft finish, however, a guided lob over Ilian Meslier which briefly silenced Elland Road.

Briefly being the key word because inside two minutes Leeds had hauled themselves level.

Glen Kamara began the move in midfield with a short pass to Crysencio Summerville, who slid a through ball into Piroe to finish low into the far corner.

Piroe netted 46 goals in 96 games during two-and-a-bit seasons with Swansea but that didn’t stop him celebrating against his former employers.

There was such an openness about the contest with both sides encouraged to come forward. Ethan Ampadu invited pressure with a loose pass and Ollie Cooper’s effort was deflected over.

Down the other end, referee Sam Allison waved away vocal Leeds appeals for a penalty when Sam Byram’s cross appeared to strike Key on the arm. Summerville then drew a save from Carl Rushworth.

Swansea’s equality of possession and territory didn’t please the Elland Road faithful, who have become accustomed to seeing Leeds dominate such things.

When Key was allowed space and time to drift infield from the right flank and curl narrowly over, the reaction was moans and groans, plus a few shouts of ‘get into ‘em!’

Swans boss Michael Duff said it was a disappointing evening in terms of the result but insisted it was a ‘really good’ performance from his side

But Leeds ended the first-half strongly and after half-chances for Summerville and Struijk, they led on the stroke half-time.

For all their intricacy going forward, this was pure route one, with Ethan Ampadu lofting a nonchalant high ball from deep and Rutter brushing off Bashir Humphreys with embarrassing ease to get goalside.

The Frenchman was afforded three touches to steady himself before finishing past Rushworth and the general mood improved in an instant.

Summerville almost put the game to bed on 53 minutes but fired over when well-placed after Rutter’s pass through inside the Swansea box.

James seized on Jay Fulton’s doziness as Key tried to pass the ball out of defence to him but couldn’t get enough power to trouble Rushworth.

But you felt the third goal was coming and it was. Just after the hour, Leeds burgled the ball back in midfield and Rutter played in James to fire high into the roof of the net.

Patrick Bamford twice went close to adding to the lead, narrowly firing wide from Summerville’s cross before drawing a save from Swans keeper Carl Rushworth.

Rodon turned a corner goalwards only to be denied by Humphreys on the line and Jaidon Anthony headed wide late on but Leeds settled for three.