Coventry 2-3 Leeds: Sunday Mirror match report

The Championship had better watch out – as the sleeping giant called Leeds United is awakening from its slumbers.

This victory against a ­Coventry side – being ­forged into a hard-working, ­powerful force by Aidy Boothroyd – was no fluke.

Simon Grayson has now plotted three away triumphs on the trot by Leeds, who are performing with growing confidence and belief.

And if they can start ­turning it on with greater consistency at Elland Road, it is quite possible that, from the ashes of near bankruptcy and internal chaos, an ­amazing turn-around can be achieved by the famous Yorkshire club.

After Leeds had withstood a fearsome second-half ­assault to pick up another three points, a delighted Grayson said: “That was a ­really professional ­performance. We’re not about to get carried away by one or two wins, but we do appreciate what could ­happen if we get a run going.

“With our support, we are a Premiership club, but we have to get back there.

“We are still trying to consolidate after a few difficult years for the club. We took some criticism recently for a couple of back-to-back home defeats and now we have won three times away.

“We have a level-headed group of lads, who will not allow themselves to be ­influenced one way or the other by a couple of results.

“We have a long way to go and we need to get our ­consistency right, but this was a good result against a tough side. We showed a lot of ­character and desire to win.”

Indeed, they did. Despite having a two-goal lead at the break after two terrific first- half strikes, Leeds had to dig in and defend with determination and diligence to protect their lead. They were on the score sheet after just four ­minutes when Jonathan ­Howson added the final ­headed touch from close range after excellent work by George McCartney and Robert ­Snodgrass.

Snodgrass made it 2-0 with a superb individual effort after 31 minutes – curling a shot from the right edge of the penalty area into the far top corner of the net.

Boothroyd has made ­Coventry much more resilient than they were and the deficit was reduced by a 52nd minute header by Lukas Jutkiewicz from a cross by Gary ­McSheffrey. But Max Gradel restored the two-goal ­advantage for Leeds from the penalty spot in the 61st minute after he had been fouled by Richard Keogh.

It was just as well because after Ben Turner had scored for Coventry with a low shot from just inside the penalty area in the 63minute, they threw everything but the kitchen sink at Leeds in a bid to equalise.

Boothroyd was none too pleased with Coventry’s shaky start. He said: “We should have been more professional and, although we produced a good finish and might have saved a point, we gave ourselves too much to do.”