Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford scored a dramatic late winner for the Whites as they grabbed a 2-1 victory over Luton Town at Kenilworth Road to move to second in the Championship.

The 26-year-old ended his goalscoring drought against Blackburn Rovers prior to the international break and added two more to his tally against the Hatters.

At a rainy Kenilworth Road, it took a little while for both sides to blow away the rust after the international break and though Leeds, wearing their sky blue third kit for the first time, saw a lot of the ball early on they were unable to do anything of note with it.

The game sparked into life after 18 minutes when Tyler Roberts burst through to pick up a Bamford flick on and went down on the edge of the box but the referee waved away Leeds’ complaints.

It was the Hatters turn to look to the referee three minutes later. Harry Cornick went down inside the Leeds' penalty area but again the referee was not interested. Cornick popped up again moments later, ghosting in at the front post to latch onto a whipped in corner but putting his effort wide of the post.

Leeds began to pile on the pressure and had a number of chances as the first half wore on.

First Bamford picked up a floated through ball but saw his half-volleyed effort come back out off the post and then the Whites were denied by an impressive double save by James Shea, who parried away a long-range Kalvin Phillips strike and then smothered Jack Harrison’s effort from the rebound.

Roberts nearly gave the Whites the lead on the eve of the half but his deflected strike from the edge of the box was expertly tipped round the post by Shea.

Moments later Cornick threatened to give the home side something to celebrate during the break as he broke forward and past Gaetano Berardi but, as he has been so many times this season, Ben White was there to block his effort.

It was beginning to look worryingly like the same old story for Marcelo Bielsa’s men, who had created chances but not quite been able to get the ball in the net, but Bamford opened the scoring six minutes into the second half–finding the net after a lightning-quick break from the visitors.

The lead didn’t last, however, as Luton striker James Collins, who had been without a goal since mid-October, pulled the Hatters level three minutes later–meeting a cross from former Whites man Izzy Brown and directing his effort past Kiko Casilla.

The home side had the ball in the Leeds’ net moments later when Matty Pearson bundled in a corner but their celebrations were muted by the linesman’s flag.

With the game slipping out of Leeds’ control, Bielsa looked to his bench, first introducing Liam Cooper in place of Berardi and then Helder Costa for Jack Harrison.

Leeds continued to dominate possession and pile the pressure on the hosts but Luton provided a threat of their own on the break.

The Hatters continued to look resolute amidst wave after wave of Leeds’ attacks. Costa saw multiple crosses blocked on the right-hand side, while there were chances for Hernandez and Bamford but neither could find the back of the net.

In the 87th minute, Shea produced a fantastic save to deny Mateusz Klich from a tight angle, however, the Poland international would prove vital just moments later.

The 29-year-old put a lethal ball across the six-yard box for Bamford direct into the back of the net with a sliding finish.

Luton had a chance to level right at the end. Dan Potts rose highest from a corner but put his back-post header wide in the very last action of the game.

The result means Leeds climb to second in the Championship ahead of their trip to Reading on Tuesday night.

Full time: Leeds United 2 - 1 Luton Town.