Millwall 0 Leeds United 3: Whites' attacking beauty triumphs in a beast of an away assignment - Yorkshire Post 17/9/23
When Leeds United’s attacking combinations click, they are a joy to watch.
By Stuart Rayner
They scored three goals in the Lions' Den at Millwall, each
a work of counter-attacking art. They were their only three shots on target.
Joel Piroe got two and Georginio Rutter the other in a 3-0
win of character and class but all the attacking players impressed.
Play like this, and the odd moment of defensive insecurity,
such as the one immediately before the first goal, can be easily forgotten.
A minute after coming out of his area to play sweeper-keeper
and head clear, Illan Meslier's heavy touch got him in trouble with Kevin
Nisbet breathing down his neck. Luke Ayling's attempt to deal with in his
penalty area were so clumsy that he went full-on Gary Kelly at one point,
heading the ball from a prone position. But as soon as Leeds won the ball back
they swept down the left with a quite beautiful move.
Rutter played the ball to Willy Gnonto and as he returned
it, Piroe ran over it, making the run Rutter picked out for the opening goal.
When Rutter, Gnonto, Piroe and Crysencio Summerville are in
synch, it made you think Leeds' struggles in front of goal in the early weeks
of the season (Portman Road apart) are not going to last. When Dan James and
Jaidon Anthony were introduced late on, standards did not drop but the pace
increased.
The classic ideal selection headache is looming for
Wednesday’s trip to Hull City.
If Rutter did not look like a £35m footballer, he certainly
looked like a top Championship one, which has not always been the case, playing
with a confidence belying his record in English football.
Flowing Leeds football had not been on the cards in the
early stages.
In the first 125 seconds alone they had to head away one
corner and two long throw-ins away, before Meslier caught another.
It was a "Welcome to the Championship" day. A
thumping atmosphere at the New Den – noon kick-off or not – made last season's
Premier League days out feel genteel, but then a game against Leeds at the New
Den makes an illegal cockfight in an East End pub look genteel.
Referee Chris Kavanagh decided to deal with it by leaving
his cards in the dressing room.
The whole team stood up to it, Joe Rodon leading the way.
It was nine minutes before Leeds really got their foot as
opposed to their heads on the ball but they instantly looked a different team.
Although Sam Byram's cross was cut out when Ayling worked the ball to his
opposite full-back, Pascal Struijk was soon threatening at a Summerville
corner.
It was when Ethan Amadu gave the ball away, exposing Leeds
down the middle, that Meslier was forced to rush out and Tom Bradshaw's chasing
of a lost cause was behind more unnecessary mild panic but the 15th-minute goal
settled it.
Soon Jake Cooper was the one slicing a corner away
uncertainly.
Leeds came close to adding another couple of lovely goals,
Gnonto's reverse pass just failing to pick out Piroe after Rutter found him
brilliantly. A wonderful Ayling ball found Gnonto to shoot past the post.
As the football flowed, James must have been watching from
the bench worried how he might break into this line-up but with 20 minutes to
go, he and debutant Anthony were both introduced. Piroe's goal was still their
only shot on target at that stage.
Much of the second half had been played in Leeds' territory
but Millwall were also struggling to work the goalkeeper beyond Bradshaw
forcing a save 71 seconds in.
Leeds counter-attacks came to nothing in the 55th and 60th
minutes when nobody anticipated Gnonto's cross, and when Cooper tackled
Summerville in the area.
But in the 78th minute things clicked again, James feeding
Rutter and although he fell over as the striker returned it, he still laid on a
tap-in for the arriving Piroe.
Three minutes later Ayling released James to sprint down the
right and pick out Rutter, pushing the offside line, to get his just rewards
for a bright performance.
The ingredients for a very promising seasons are taking
shape.
The players got their dues as they went to thank the away
fans at full-time but the biggest cheer came for the man who lingered at the
back, Farke's work recognised by the gleeful supporters.