Mighty Leeds Weblog

Coventry 0-2 Leeds: Frank Lampard is dealt first home defeat as Sky Blues boss - as visitors go five points clear in the Championship table Leeds cruised to a 2-0 victory over Coventry City in their clash on Wednesday Joel Piroe and Jayden Bogle found the back of the net for the visitors By AADAM PATEL This was meant to be a tough ask for Leeds United. A trip to the in-form side of the Championship in Coventry City and a ground that Frank Lampard was turning into something of a fortress. The Coventry boss was aiming to become the first Sky Blues manager to go unbeaten in his first seven home games since Jimmy Hill in 1961-62. Instead, his side capitulated when the league leaders came to town with Daniel Farke’s men ruthlessly putting this game to bed in the opening half an hour. Leeds had Coventry’s hospitality to thank with mistakes leading to the two goals from Joel Piroe and Jayden Bogle. That it only finished two-nil was due to Leeds's wastefulness after. Like...

Leeds United recorded another important Sky Bet Championship victory, cruising past Coventry City 2-0 away from home thanks to first-half goals from Joël Piroe and Jayden Bogle! When the game got going, the opening 10 minutes lacked clear chances at either end. The away side had pushed forwards and gained a couple of set-play opportunities, but the hosts defended in any way they could. Jack Rudoni was the first player to test the ‘keeper at either end. He picked the ball up from Ellis Simms and shot powerfully on target, but Illan Meslier saved the effort comfortably. When the chance did present itself it was finished in style from our top-scorer, who fired the Whites ahead in front of the travelling supporters, who had been lively from the start! Good work from the midfield pressed Coventry backwards and that allowed Manor Solomon to pick up the ball and play Piroe through on goal, where he composed himself and smashed the ball low into the bottom corner! Farke’s side remain...

By Lee Sobot Leeds had the chance to move five points clear in top spot with victory at Wednesday night’s hosts Coventry. Leeds United have created new daylight at the top of the Championship, Wednesday night's 2-0 victory at Coventry City sending Daniel Farke's Whites five points clear in pole position. Joel Piroe's 13th goal of the season after a brilliant Manor Solomon assist put the Whites 1-0 up after just 17 minutes before Jayden Bogle cashed in on a huge error from Sky Blues keeper Oliver Dovin to double his side's lead. Bogle netted after a superb solo run from the halfway line to the Coventry box and then took full advantage from the Dovin gift as the Sky Blues keeper spilled the ball back into his path. The victory established the big change of taking Leeds five points clear of both second-placed Burnley and third-placed Sheffield United although the Blades now have a game in hand which will present itself through Saturday afternoon's hosting of ...

By Joe Donnohue Leeds United manager Daniel Farke hosts his pre-Coventry City press conference this afternoon following the conclusion of the January transfer window on Monday night. Leeds ended the January window with no additions to Farke’s squad which is seen by some supporters as a risk to the club’s ultimate goal of clinching promotion back to the Premier League this season. Others have taken the view that Leeds’ existing group, presently top of the Championship table, is strong enough and durable enough to see out the remaining 16 league fixtures without dropping out of the automatic promotion places. United are two points clear of second-place Sheffield United ahead of their midweek fixture against Frank Lampard’s Coventry, who are the division’s form team over the last five games. Leeds do, though, hold a five-point advantage over third and fourth-placed Burnley and Sunderland. Farke on Struijk We will see, it was important for him to have more days in the training ...

Not a bad idea Written by: William Almond To give you a brief peek behind the scenes at The Square Ball blog, since the beginning of the season I’ve had an article pencilled in about not really wanting to get promoted. The idea, in theory, was that Leeds would be fifteen points clear by January and I could, very gently and carefully, remind the other promotion contenders that not only were we going up, but I wasn’t even that bothered about it. That obviously hasn’t happened. I mean, it might have if we had a different ‘keeper, or the squad weren’t addicted to the Red Bull-stocked mini fridges in the home dressing room. But it hasn’t. As of this weekend though, Leeds are finally five points clear of 3rd, and having battered an admittedly terrible Cardiff side 7-0 at Elland Road finally look on course for the Premier League. (VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: I am not saying we will definitely go up. Do not tweet or email*.) And so, it could have been time for the rant about not really want...

By Joe Donnohue Leeds United rebuffed LaLiga side Real Betis' £10 million approach for striker Mateo Joseph during the final days of the winter transfer window. The Whites were always unlikely to sanction an exit for the young forward who has shown promise but is still to prove he can be the finished article at Elland Road. After allowing Joe Gelhardt to go on loan to Hull City and Patrick Bamford's track record in the treatment room, two Leeds players are most likely to share the minutes up front for the remainder of the season: Joel Piroe and the aforementioned Joseph. United see the Spaniard as a player worth developing in the first-team and is someone manager Daniel Farke has been fond of since arriving at the club in July 2023. Even though Joseph has scored just three times this season, Betis were not the only Spanish top flight club to express an interest in the Under-21 international last month. While other clubs would find it rather difficult to resist a lucra...

By Graham Smyth Leeds United’s ‘quiet window’ was actually next to silent and it will either be vindicated by a very capable squad or become a stick to beat 49ers Enterprises with. There was more than a little expectation management in Leeds United's 'expecting a quiet month' messaging when the January transfer window came into sight. Club sources were saying it long before the window opened and Daniel Farke soon repeated it and then reiterated it on record. But it wasn't just to gently guide what Farke calls an 'emotional' fanbase through the month without their hopes being cruelly raised and dashed. It was because Leeds went into this window in good shape and came out of it in arguably even better shape. Top of the Championship, the league's leading goalscorers by a mile, with the second best defensive record and the best goal difference. Even one of those facts would be reason for optimism but all of them combined, along with all the other key metri...

Max Wilkins Leeds United youngster Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen has joined Dunfermline Athletic on a free transfer until the end of the season. The Scottish Championship side completed the signing of the 20-year-old on a six-month contract with the option to extend the deal further. Sky Sports News have since reported (3 February) that there is a sell-on clause included in the deal despite there being no initial fee included. It doesn’t come as a surprise that sides in Scotland would be interested in bringing in the centre-back during the winter window. The Scotland under-21 international spent time on loan with Inverness Caledonian Thistle last January until a back injury ruled him out for the remainder of the season. The young defender has since returned to Elland Road where he has made 13 appearances for the academy side so far this season. Now Chilokoa-Mullen has completed a permanent switch away from LS11 where he will be hopeful of securing regular minutes in senior foo...

Dan Murphy There has been another update in Leeds United’s transfer deadline day pursuit of Cameron Archer. It’s been a deathly quiet January transfer window for Leeds United, with striker Joe Gelhardt’s loan switch to Hull City the only significant change to the squad. Daniel Farke had set low expectations ahead of the window opening by repeatedly stating he was satisfied with his squad which sits at the top of the Championship table. However, with title rivals Burnley and Sheffield United strengthening considerably this month, Leeds have at least looked to bring in some additional firepower. Moves for playmakers Emi Buendia and Louie Barry were unsuccessful so attention was shifted to a striker in the form of Cameron Archer towards the end of last week. Leeds had an initial loan bid rejected for the Southampton striker but have continued to push for the signing deep into deadline day. They have had no success yet and, with the hours ticking closer to the 11 pm deadline,...

By Joe Donnohue Leeds United have been linked with a deadline day transfer for Southampton forward Adam Armstrong who is reportedly being made available by the Premier League club. Armstrong is the subject of reported interest from Leeds and Middlesbrough ahead of the 11pm deadline with both sides in the market for a centre-forward. Boro appear close to announcing the loan signing of Kelechi Iheanacho from Sevilla on a loan deal until the end of the season following Emmanuel Latte Lath's £22.5 million exit for Atlanta United in MLS. The Riversiders appear keen to further supplement Michael Carrick's squad with a promotion push via the Championship play-offs looking likely this term. Leeds, meanwhile, are 'staying awake' to the possibility of a new addition in attack due to Patrick Bamford's ongoing injury problems. The forward is expected to make a return to team training later this month but due to the length of time he has spent sidelined and the player...

Leeds United winger Willy Gnonto is said to have attracted transfer interest from the Saudi Pro League Leeds United have reportedly slapped a £50million price tag on Willy Gnonto amid transfer interest in the Whites' star forward. The 21-year-old has been a regular fixture in Daniel Farke's team this season, having played in all but two Championship matches for Leeds so far in 2024/25. Gnonto has scored five goals and provided five assists across all competitions for the Whites during the current campaign. And The Sun have claimed Leeds will be wanting at least £50m for the Italian, who reportedly remains the subject of interest from a number of unnamed Saudi Pro League sides. Farke's side will be relieved that the Saudi transfer window closed on Friday, but there will be some concern that Gnonto could still depart in the summer. Gnonto committed his future to Leeds last summer after signing a new four-year contract with the club. The Italian international has been ...

By Leon Wobschall A CASE of men against boyos, quite simply. This is not supposed to happen when Leeds United welcome Cardiff, who had lost just once in their previous 13 league visits. Listen to certain Leeds observers and this is also not supposed to happen when Daniel Farke is managing their side either. This was payback time. There was little to complain about here, although Farke being Farke said that United’s biggest home win since March 1972 wasn’t quite perfect. It would have been close to it if attacking substitute Largie Ramazani had followed the lead of fellow replacements Wilfried Gnonto and Mateo Joseph in scoring, he conceded. That aforesaid early 70s rout came against Southampton, of course. If Barry Davies had been commentating on Saturday, he would have again opined that this was almost cruel, with the other team just not on the park, like the Saints. The Elland Road crowd certainly lapped it up. No perceived handbrake here from Farke’s Leeds, who had six...

By Graham Smyth The YEP’s take and off-camera moments from Saturday’s 7-0 blitz of Cardiff. Leeds United cut loose and reinforced their reputation as the Championship's most deadly attacking force with a seven-goal hammering of Cardiff City. There were so many good individual performances but it was the complete team display that put the Bluebirds to the sword at a purring Elland Road. Here is the YEP take. Good day Daniel James Remember when end product was a problem? That's 21 goals and 13 assists in just over one and a half seasons under Daniel Farke for a winger who is not only staking a genuine claim to the Leeds United Player of the Year award, but the gong for the division's best player. This was a performance full of spite. It was almost as if he really wanted to hurt Cardiff City. Hurt them he did. A goal, two assists, a penalty won and so many moments of danger. So many shots. This was James at his very best. Joel Piroe The recent criticism of his pe...

By Graham Smyth Cameron Archer was the story in the build-up to Leeds United's game against Cardiff City until Daniel James and co bumped him off the back page. Southampton said no to a Whites loan approach earlier in the week but hope lives on that a domino-effect at Premier League level could soften the Saints' sentiment when it came to the striker. Only in the transfer-obsessed modern era could a report of a once-in-half-a-century Leeds United performance begin with a mention of a player not even in Elland Road employment. So just as James, Manor Solomon, Junior Firpo, Ao Tanaka and a host of others served a reminder of how good they are without further additions, this will be the last mention of Archer. This was their day and not his. He played no part and there's a fair chance he will play no part in the rest of the 2024/25 story. Even if he does join, he will not walk into this side. Few would. Let the Leeds recruitment chiefs worry about what needs to happen ...

By Lee Sobot Dan James scored one and set up three others as Leeds battered Cardiff 7-0. Whites star Dan James revealed the impact of a Leeds United change with special mention for a teammate after helping his Leeds United side batter Cardiff City 7-0. Rapid winger James provided the assists for the goals that gave his side a 2-0 lead at the interval of Saturday’s Championship hosting of Cardiff, laying on crosses for Brenden Aaronson and Manor Solomon to convert from the middle of the box. James, though, revealed that unlike in previous games, his men were determined to then kick on after the break, something achieved in no uncertain terms as Daniel Farke’s men bagged five more goals without reply. James himself made it 3-0 when bagging the goal that he had been threatening in the 50th minute from a Junior Firpo cross. The Whites winger was then felled for a 65th-minute penalty that Joel Piroe converted, after which James was taken off. But his side were still not done, Wi...

Whites hit seven at Elland Road against the Bluebirds. Leeds United faced Cardiff City at Elland Road in the Sky Bet Championship, kicking off February in style with a thumping win on home turf to seal three points against the Bluebirds. Elland Road was loud and ready for kick-off, welcoming out their team. Daniel Farke had made two changes from our last outing against Burnley, with Joe Rothwell and Junior Firpo back in the starting XI. The Whites set the tone early and raced into a quick lead to the delight of the home crowd. Joel Piroe played a left-footed curling pass in behind the Cardiff defence, releasing Dan James who used his pace to latch onto it. The winger rounded Jak Alnwick in the visiting net who rushed out, but was put off his stride, and with covering defenders coming back to stop him he kept his composure, went past Alnwick again and laid it off for Brenden Aaronson who fired home at close range! It wouldn’t be long before it was then two for home side, yet a...

By Leon Wobschall DANIEL Farke urged his Leeds United side to enjoy the moment after the Whites recorded their biggest home win since March 1972 with a 7-0 evisceration of sorry Cardiff City. Six different scorers found the net for irresistible Leeds, who are now five points clear of third-placed Burnley after the Clarets drew at Portsmouth. Farke said: “I said ‘enjoy this today as we have created a little bit of history’ and days like this don’t come along very often. "Enjoy it and be proud and enjoy what you have done, but not in a way where you go out on a stroll and go for many drinks and celebrate. Stay concentrated because we have important games coming up. "To win with such an impressive scoreline is even more enjoyable. If you want to become relentless in this league, you have to be relentless yourself and this is more or less what we have shown today. "What I liked about this performance was that in the last 20 minutes when we were four or five nil u...

By Graham Smyth Daniel Farke said Leeds United fell short of perfection in their 7-0 win over Cardiff City but he has told his players to enjoy a 'moment to be proud of.' The Whites were 2-0 up and comfortable at half-time of the Elland Road fixture having taken the lead through Brenden Aaronson and doubled it with Manor Solomon's back-post finish. The second half was a one-sided beating, however, as Leeds' relentless attacking desire gave them the biggest win since 1972's 7-0 rout of Southampton. Dan James got a goal to go with his two earlier assists and won a penalty that Joel Piroe converted with real composure. Piroe added his second deep in stoppage time after a long-range strike from Willy Gnonto and Mateo Joseph's first goal since October. "After a win always relieved but when you have a day like this and such an impressive scoreline it's even more enjoyable," said Farke. "This league is relentless and you have to be relentless...

By Leon Wobschall YOU would have never have known that Cardiff City had been a bit of a bogey side for Leeds United at home in the past. They made a savage mockery of that with a scintillating performance which yielded seven goals in their most handsome win of the season so far and biggest here since that feted win over Southampton in March 1972. Leeds were brilliant and extended their unbeaten run to 13 matches in all competitions - they are also now 14 without defeat at Fortress Elland Road. Ahead of kick-off, Cardiff’s record at LS11 stacked up pretty well. They had lost just once in 13 previous visits here and were also in handy recent form. After this, they won’t be in a hurry to visit this part of Yorkshire any time soon. Goals from six sources in Brenden Aaronson, Manor Solomon, Dan James, Joel Piroe and subs Wilfried Gnonto and Mateo Joseph saw the outstanding hosts wreak havoc and send a major statement to their promotion rivals. Two goals arrived in the first quar...

By Lee Sobot Leeds United produced a Bluebirds battering as Saturday afternoon's Championship visitors Cardiff City were absolutely blitzed en route to a 7-0 hammering at Elland Road. Leeds immediately began brightly and Daniel Farke's side went ahead with just 13 minutes on the clock as a lovely move was finished off by Brenden Aaronson. Junior Firpo played the ball to Joel Piroe who produced a fantastic through ball for Dan James down the left channel. Through sheer pace, James beat onrushing keeper Jak Alnwick but looked to have taken the ball too wide. James, though, showed a cool head to turn back inside and lay on a perfect square ball for the onrushing Aaronson who also showed great composure to slam home a low finish between defenders on the line. Leeds quickly pressed for a second goal and Cardiff were already hanging on with barely ten minutes on the clock. But a second Whites goal looked imminent and it arrived in the 13th minute as Piroe and James this time ...