Daniel Farke given food for thought, Archie Gray's remarkable week and Leeds United winners and losers — YEP 17/3/24
Leeds United cruised to a 2-0 victory at Elland Road on Sunday afternoon to hit the Championship summit
By Will Jackson
Leeds United moved to the top of the Championship table on
Sunday as they eased to a 2-0 win over Millwall at Elland Road. The Whites were
comfortable throughout the contest and goals from Wilfried Gnonto and Dan James
were enough to seal all three points and lift them above Leicester City and
Ipswich Town in the table.
Here's a look at some of the winners and losers to emerge
from the contest.
Winners
Archie Gray
It's been some week for the now 18-year-old. After
celebrating his birthday at the start of the week, Gray was namechecked by
England manager Gareth Southgate on Thursday afternoon.
That was before the youngster was included in the England
U21s squad for the first time on Friday morning with the international break
now upon us. He'll be heading to St George's Park in fine spirits, too, after
yet another eye-catching showing at right-back for the Whites.
Millwall attempted to test Gray physically but he handled
everything the Lions threw at him and then some defensively while looking the
part on the ball with a number of expert touches. He covered the ground, kept
Millwall's wide men quiet and showed maturity beyond his years once again.
Wilfried Gnonto
The Italian has scored six goals in Leeds' last nine league
games and his effort against Millwall was a beauty, it has to be said. Carrying
the ball in from the right wing, Gnonto beat his man and showed a turn of pace
to get to the edge of the box before slamming the ball beyond the Millwall
custodian with real force.
It was a goal that underlined Leeds' dominance in the
contest, while it also summed up just where the winger is right now after a
difficult first half of the season. He's flying high in confidence and it's
clear that he has the potential to be a key man for Leeds over the final eight
games of the season.
Dan James
James can count himself unfortunate to be out of Daniel
Farke's starting XI at present. The Wales international was one of the first
names on the teamsheet until he picked up an injury at the end of January, and
while he only missed two league games, he has struggled to find his way back
in.
He's started just one of seven games since his return to
fitness, but he'll hope his performance after stepping off the bench against
the Lions will be enough to give Farke some food for thought. James took his
goal well, showing composure and control to bury it through a crowd of
defenders and he could have had a second in the closing stages, hitting the
post.
Losers
Jamie Shackleton
Daniel Farke confirmed the utilityman was fit and available
for selection heading into the contest after overcoming concussion, but there
was notably no place for him in the match day squad. The 24-year-old has
struggled with injuries this season, making just two league outings since
September and his omission from the squad seemed to say plenty about his
current standing.
As such, with his contract due to expire at the end of the
campaign, it seems Shackleton faces an uncertain few months.
