Sky Bet Championship: Sheffield Wednesday 0 Leeds United 2

STEP by step – that’s Garry Monk’s policy for Leeds United.

They certainly took a few strides forward on Saturday with a deserved 2-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday, one of the benchmark clubs in the Championship.

Since that opening-day horror show at QPR, the Whites have improved game by game to get Monk his first league win as United’s head coach.

“We had a game-plan today and the players followed it pretty much to the letter,” he said after second-half goals by strikers Marcus Antonsson and Chris Wood sank the Owls.

Knowing that Wednesday were particularly strong in central midfield, Monk selected a side that could hurt the home team down the flanks, particularly on the right where Hadi Sacko gave full back Jack Hunt a torrid afternoon.

Leeds engineered several promising attacking positions, only to be let down by the final delivery.

But on 63 minutes they got it right, Sacko picking out Antonsson, who nodded in his first Championship strike.

A second goal via a breakaway was always on the cards, and arrived when substitute Kemar Roofe’s precision 85th- minute cross from the left was turned in by Wood.

Wednesday boss Carlos Carvalhal believed the first goal would be crucial in a tight Yorkshire derby.

His men had opportunities in the opening 20 minutes to move ahead but Fernando Forestieri could not take two good chances which came his way, the second being headed off the line by Liam Cooper.

Leeds grew into the game as it progressed and, although Almen Abdi clipped the woodwork just before half-time, the visitors possessed a growing threat.

Wednesday only looked menacing for a few minutes after Antonsson’s opener, but after Robert Green saved well from substitute Gary Hooper from close range, they struggled to break down a well-organised and resolute Leeds.

Monk said: “We’re still not the team we want to be, but this was a game which showed a real improvement, which is important for the development of our young players.”

Leeds head to Luton tomorrow (Tuesday) for an EFL Cup second-round tie.

Sheffield Wednesday: Westwood, Hunt (Buckley 72), Hutchinson, Lees, Pudil, Abdi (Hooper HT), Lee, Bannon, Wallace (Jones 64), Forestieri, Fletcher. Subs (not used): Wildsmith, Palmer, Joao, Sasso. Caution: Bannon

Leeds United: Green, Ayling, Batley, Cooper, Taylor, Sacko (Phillips 88), Bridcutt, Vieira, Mowatt (Roofe 77), Antonsson (Doukara 68), Wood. Subs (not used): Silvestri, Bamba, Hernandez, Coyle. Cautions: Vieira, Bridcutt

Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire).

Attendance: 29,075.