DOMINANT Leeds United moved to the top of the Championship with a comfortable fog-shrouded 2-0 win at struggling Stoke City on Boxing Day.

Had they showed more clarity in front of goal the Whites would have boosted their impressive goal difference but Joel Piroe’s double was enough to earn only their second away win in eight games.

Leeds leapfrogged Sheffield United who lost at home to third-placed Burnley thanks to their nine-goal advantage over the Blades.

Much has been made of Leeds’ scratchy form on the road but this was an important victory to help prevent their away record becoming a psychological problem and they will be looking to back it up at Derby County on Sunday.

The Rams will surely provide a stiffer test than a poor Stoke outfit who slid to their fifth loss in six games and are now just three points from the drop zone.

The Potters had the opening chance in the second minute when Lewis Koumas turned in the Leeds box and his shot was blocked by Illan Meslier.

That proved Stoke’s only meaningful effort in the first half as Daniel Farke’s men seized control with the big surprise that it took until the 42nd minute for the visitors to take the lead.

Dan James and Jaydon Bogle were tearing Stoke’s left flank to pieces but City goalkeeper Viktor Johansson stood firm under increasing pressure.

When Manor Solomon failed to convert a great James cross on the half-hour it looked like Leeds would be in for a frustrating evening.

However, their patience paid off just before the break when Brenden Aaronson slipped the ball through to Piroe whose initial effort was blocked by Johansson but the Dutch striker regathered the ball and lashed it high into the net.

The second half was as one-sided as the first. Stoke fashioned just one chance – a header by Ashley Phillips which went wide – while Leeds maintained their grip on proceedings.

Farke opted to rest Ao Tanaka and pair Ethan Ampadu in midfield with Joe Rothwell and the duo kept Leeds on the front foot.

It was game over on 63 minutes as James delivered a looping cross for Piroe to nod in his ninth goal of the campaign at the far post.

Stoke could see no way back in the gloom after that as United had several opportunities to increase their score – a point which irked Farke.

“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," Farke admitted.

“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.”