Leeds United thrash Stoke City
Leeds United 6 - 0 Stoke City
Joel Piroe scored a hat-trick in the opening 20 minutes as Leeds United tore apart Stoke City.
The hosts made an electric start at what was a buoyant Elland Road as Piroe scored twice in the first eight minutes after poor deferynsive play from the visitors.
Things went from bad to worse for the Potters when the Dutchman, the league's top scorer completed his treble from close range. This was before Junior Firpo bundled in a fourth and Piroe made it 5-0 by half-time. The famous old stadium was bouncing.
The pace did drop off after the interval but Willy Gnonto headed in the sixth from Manor Solomon's whipped cross from the left.
Stoke arrived at Elland Road unbeaten in five but this damaging defeat means they could yet get dragged back into relegation trouble.
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Piroe shines for Leeds
The former Swansea man Piroe had failed to score in his nine previous games but ended his near three-month drought inside six minutes with a composed finish after Stoke coughed up possession 20 yards from their own goal.
The Potters were then caught out at the back again just two minutes later as Jayden Bogle pinched the ball and teed up Piroe for his second.
Two became three for Piroe and the rampant hosts when he hammered in at an angle from a rebound and Firpo got his fourth of the season from close in.
Piroe made it 5-0 before the break with another scrappy effort as Stoke totally fell apart.
Mark Robins made three changes at the break to try and stem the tide and his men at least managed to keep the score down in the second half.
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Relegation worries for Stoke?
The sixth goal basically summed up Stoke's miserable day and most of their season.
They cleared an initial corner in but then got no pressure on the ball as Solomon was allowed to cut in on his right foot and hit a shot towards the back post that an unmarked Gnonto was able to head in from close in.
They should still have enough to stay up but will be nervously looking over their shoulders. Relegation to League One would be a disaster for the club.
More celebrations were to come for Leeds a couple of hours after the full-time whistle.
Stay tuned to European Super Football for more reaction.
One Leeds fan told us: "What a wonderful day. The manager has done a fantastic job to get us back to this point. Onwards and upwards for the entire club now. "
