Rare Leeds United off day, permanent transfer noise grows and Farke loses cool in off-camera moment — YEP 4/12/23
Leeds United have heeded their manager’s early wishes and turned Elland Road into a fortress this season in the Championship.
By Graham Smyth
Daniel Farke made clear from the outset that the home
support could be harnessed by his players and seven wins on the spin at home
suggest they are doing just that. The 3-2 victory over Middlesbrough was far
from easy but it kept up a run that bodes well for the promotion charge and it
featured a number of impressive individual performances, even if the collective
performance was, at times, a little shaky.
Good day
Joe Rodon: The centre-back has made a number of hugely
important blocks this season and was at it again during the second half against
Middlesbrough. Rodon’s performances have been consistently solid since arriving
on loan from Spurs and the clamour for him and Leeds to make that deal
permanent is growing with every match. He was among the better performers
against Boro.
Archie Gray: Although Gray was too easily beaten for Boro’s
first goal, he recovered brilliantly to put in an excellent performance. What
catches the eye when it comes to Gray is how he manages to take play in the
right direction having initially faced his own goal with a marker on his tail.
He put in a cross that led to a goal and defended his side of the pitch really
well after the initial blip. The mature performances and mounting up.
Bad day
Pascal Struijk: Farke made clear after the game that Struijk
pressing deep into the Boro half, which led to a counter attack, a corner and a
goal for the visitors, was his instruction but it was just one of a few wobbly
moments from a player who has been excellent so far this season. Struijk, only
just recovered from hernia surgery, was uncharacteristically rushed or sloppy
in possession. His passing has been a big feature of Leeds’ play this season,
which is why it stood out on Saturday. But he didn’t go under.
Georginio Rutter: Another who can be forgiven for having a
rare off day, given how many good days there have been. Rutter won a penalty
and showed some nice stuff at times but he didn’t bring his shooting boots and
squandered good chances. As has been mentioned before, some of his wastefulness
would be a bigger talking point if he was not contributing so much in terms of
creativity.
Off-camera moments
Pre-game: Daniel James and Crysencio Summerville having a
wingers' department meeting as the two teams prepared for kick-off.
During the game: Farke losing his cool with Struijk as the
centre-back sent a long pass out of play on the right hand side. The big switch
was on, but there were easier options available to Struijk and ultimately he
didn’t complete a pass. The fourth official was next to get it from the German
as referee Darren England opted to keep his cards in his pocket when Archie
Gray and then Dan James were impeded in promising crossing positions, either
side of an unsuccessful penalty appeal for Sam Byram. Performance coach Chris
Domogalla running down the West Stand to make a special delivery of a
resistance band to Djed Spence as he warmed up. The full-back has been
available for minutes in each of the last two games but is yet to make his
return from injury. Struijk's half-time conversation with referee Darren
England, complaining about various decisions in a frenetic first half.
Post-game: Rodon giving Rutter some good natured stick,
presumably over his second half miss, at full-time as most of the Leeds players
walked around the pitch applauding Elland Road. Patrick Bamford, whose new
hair-do caught the attention of the entire stadium when he took his hat off
prior to a substitute appearance, was one of the first down the tunnel into the
warmth of the dressing room.
