Leeds United ended 2024 top of the Championship table beating Derby County 1-0 at Pride Park, as Sheffield United and Burnley dropped points.

The Whites dominated proceedings but were frustrated by a resolute Derby defence. However, in the the 79th minute Brenden Aaronson finished off a slick team move to record Leeds' fourth away win of the season.

Looking back on the performance, manager Daniel Farke said: "Fully deserved win in a tough place. We were respectful because they are red hot at home. We started well on the front foot. We were in total control. We didn't allow them to press us. We had chances to score but didn't allow them anything.

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"Normally you can't miss that many chances to win but the goal was goal of the season. I love this goal on such a difficult pitch. We did amazingly well defending, perfect team performance."

Here is how the national media reacted to Leeds' table-topping win...

The Guardian

Leeds will head into 2025 top of the Championship after a hard-fought 1-0 win at Derby. Sheffield United had briefly returned to the summit following their lunchtime kick-off against West Brom, which ended 1-1 at Bramall Lane.

However, Leeds closed out the year in pole position in the race for automatic promotion after Brenden Aaronson’s solitary second-half strike secured them an eighth win in their last 10 matches.

Eleven minutes from time, Leeds expertly passed around and finally through their hosts in a stunning exhibition of pass-and-move football, with the USA midfielder Aaronsen charging into the area and sidefooting in past stricken goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterström.

BBC Sport - Andrew Aloia

Leeds United will end the year at the top of the Championship table after Brenden Aaronson scored a well-worked winner at Derby County. The US international's cool finish at the end of a slick passing move was the decisive moment of an intensely-fought contest at Pride Park.

Leeds had dictated proceedings in the first half but tireless work by a well-organised Rams defence limited them to few chances – the best of which fell to Mateo Joseph, who forced Jacob Widell Zetterstrom into the only save of the first 45 minutes.

The second half was more frenetic, with Derby's Swedish goalkeeper foiling Aaronson, Largie Ramazani and Dan James, while Illan Meslier was tested by Curtis Nelson at the other end. Zetterstrom, however, could do nothing when Aaronson popped up in the box to slide home the 79th-minute winner that took Leeds two points clear at the summit.

The last time Leeds were top of the second tier at the end of a calendar year was in 2019 – a season that ended with their promotion to the Premier League as title winners. And in an exact repeat of five years ago, the Whites have 51 points going into January.

Sky Sports

Daniel Farke hailed Brenden Aaronson's late winner as the "goal of the season" after he slotted home at the end of a stunning move to send Leeds top of the Championship with a 1-0 victory at Derby County.

The visitors had been frustrated by a string of fine saves from goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom until they put together their best attack of the match, moving the ball quickly around the edge of the box to set up Aaronson, who scored to move Leeds two points clear of second-placed Sheffield United.

Leeds had dominated the first half although had only one shot on target while Derby were unable to have a single attempt. The hosts grew into the match after half-time forcing Illan Meslier to parry from Curtis Nelson's header at a corner.

Ethan Ampadu glanced wide from a Leeds corner but soon they finally unpicked the Derby defence. Sam Byram played the ball into Manor Soloman, who swivelled to pick out Joel Piroe and his one-touch pass set Aaronson through to finish.