Leeds United march back to the top after Jack Harrison breaks Reading's resistance

• Reading 0 Leeds United 1 

A late goal from Manchester City loanee Jack Harrison was enough to return Leeds United to the top of the Championship as Marcelo Bielsa’s side extended their winning run to four games.

Harrison struck his fourth goal of the season three minutes from time to leave the Yorkshire club seven games unbeaten and one point better off than West Brom.

Leeds had conceded only three goals in six games and Reading have been much more resilient in Mark Bowen’s first five games in charge. It was little surprise then that the first half passed off largely without incident, despite the frenetic pace of the play.

Reading had the clearest sight of goal as early as the third minute when Yakou Meité broke down the right and fired in a low cross which agonizingly evaded the outstretched boot of George Puscas.

Even those closest to Leeds’ intriguing manager Bielsa struggle to predict which formation he’ll adopt, even if the personnel are largely consistent.

Here it was the lesser-known 3-3-3-1, which Patrick Bamford afforded plenty of support from those behind him.

The weekend's 1-0 loss at Brentford was the first the Royals had suffered under Bowen, though there were few signs of any dented confidence in their muscular first half performance.

Meité went close five minutes before the break as he rose to head John Swift’s corner though placed his effort too close to Kiko Casilla.

With the game goalless at the break, Leeds were solid enough, but showed few signs of forcing the issue to collect the three points they needed to return to the summit.

There was more urgency about Bielsa’s men after half-time. Luke Ayling and Ben White increasingly carried the ball forwards from central defence, creating spaces as they did so.

Pablo Hernández and Bamford looked like those most likely to profit but Reading were obdurate in defence.

The 2,050 travelling fans leapt from their seats just after the hour mark when Stuart Dallas rattled the bar from 25 yards, by far the closest Leeds had come.

A further chance came following a corner when the ball eventually dropped to White, but the defender could not keep his volley down.

Dallas then went close once more, driving into the side netting from Ezgjan Alioski’s clever deep cross.

Leeds had more than twice Reading’s possession but, like their hosts, only one shot on target.

With three minutes remaining, the decisive moment finally arrived. Helder Costa broke down the right, his cross took a slight deflection off Omar Richards and Harrison headed in from close range.

Match details

Reading (5-3-2) Barbosa; Gunter, Miazga, Morrison, Moore, Richards; Swift, Rinomhota (McCleary), Ejaria; Meite (Loader 86), Puscas (Boye 70).

Subs: Walker, Howe, Blackett, Gomes. Booked Richards.

Leeds United (3-3-3-1) Casilla; Ayling, White, Cooper; Dallas, Phillips, Klich (Alioski 66); Hernandez, Roberts (Costa 34), Harrison (Shakleton 90); Bamford.
Subs Meslier, Douglas, Berardi, Clarke. Booked Ayling. 

Referee Mr D Bond (Lancashire)

Attendance 16,918