Leeds United new hero steps forward to avoid 'bad things' repeat — Graham Smyth's Watford Verdict — YEP 23/10/24

By Graham Smyth

Leeds United had set themselves up perfectly in the build-up to the game against Watford, but for what?

Coming off the back of a hugely comfortable win against a promotion rival, playing a side who travel terribly and boasting two birthday boys in the starting line-up. What, Leeds United, could possibly go wrong here then?

Leeds have been here before. Not in these exact circumstances perhaps but ones that felt very similar. Situations where expectation levels had been given a shot in the arm. Momentum had been gathered. Good feelings had been stoked. Leeds have been here before and bad things have happened. Even if most were expecting a Leeds win, no one would have been surprised by something different. Daniel Farke himself said on Friday that Watford could surprise anyone in this league.

Against a Watford side showing six changes, Farke did not tinker like he hinted he might in his pre-game press conference. Anyone who witnessed that battering of the Blades knew it was mere kidology. Why tinker at all when your well-oiled machine is threatening to start rolling. Of course a 14th minute injury meant he was forced into a change, but by that point Leeds had been two goals up for seven whole minutes. They were rolling towards three points by then and away from the so-easily-imagined bad things.

The theme of opposition goalkeepers turning up and turning it on is sadly familiar one in these parts but Daniel Bachmann turned up and turned the ball into his own net to start Watford's downfall on four minutes. Pascal Struijk's beauty of a floated ball sent Junior Firpo away, he sent it back to Largie Ramazani and the winger's shot was well-struck but should not have troubled Bachmann. Instead, he dropped it over his line and the referee's watch buzzed to say goal.

Three minutes later Joe Rodon made a vital challenge in his area, Leeds broke at pace and when Willy Gnonto's deflected cross came in Bachmann parried it straight to the feet of Brenden Aaronson. Elland Road buzzed to say goal.

Leeds were rolling, Watford were rocking and a rout was very much in the offing. Gnonto had earlier whistled a shot just past the post, he and Ramazani looked hungry and nothing could surely go wrong.

Except, it did. Ramazani skinned Moussa Sissoko but was caught by Festy Ebosele and even if the challenge was perfectly legal, it left a mark. Off limped the Belgian winger and on came Manor Solomon. Replacing an exciting former LaLiga player with a Premier League and Champions League veteran is considered a luxury at this level but the change did not lend itself entirely to the flow Leeds had enjoyed.

In Solomon's defence, he is rusty after an injury ravaged 2023/24 campaign and a niggly start to this season. During his absence Ramazani has begun to flourish and develop an understanding with Gnonto and Aaronson. Solomon needs to be afforded that time, too, even if he is a more experienced player. His performance held glimpses of his quality but it was a slightly awkward one at times, like he wasn't altogether on exactly the same page as his team-mates in every moment. He later admitted he is not there yet in terms of his sharpness but believes it will come.

Generally, Leeds stopped looking like a steam roller because Watford took the steam out of the home side's attacking rhythm. It became a more even affair. Illan Meslier was tested at full stretch by Giorgi Chakvetadze and Mattie Pollock threatened from consecutive corners. Maybe it was the early arrival of the goals and the comfort level they brought, or maybe it was Watford ruining the fun by stemming the tide, but the game went a little flat and so too did the atmosphere before the break. And then, after it, Watford scored a goal.

Pascal Struijk has been solid so far this season but Kwadwo Baah vapourised the centre-back with pace and strength, going past Leeds' skipper like he wasn't there and playing an unintended, unfortunate one-two with Joe Rodon before beating an already-seated Meslier.

The second half was but 90 seconds old and bad things looked possible. Leeds suddenly looked sluggish, unable to build possession with the same poise or control. Junior Firpo was baited into a booking and Tom Ince went for the near post with the free-kick, Meslier just about beating it out. The strength of Watford's big men gave Leeds some problems and Leeds were in danger of being sucked into a game they did not want to play.

Step forward Ao Tanaka with ice in his veins, silk in his touch and steel in his defending. Taking the ball under pressure he would drift, glide or skip past players in order to play Leeds forward. He covered ground, got stuck in and made the game look simple again. There was one particular instance that had Elland Road purring for its new Japanese hero. He slid in to halt a Watford attack in his own area, got up and ran with the ball across the box and then unleashed a ball down the middle that gave Leeds a chance to breathe and Piroe a chance to try and make something happen. He helped give Leeds control and forward impetus and took the sting out of the Hornets.

Leeds came close to a third when Jayden Bogle shaped to cross in order to disguise an effort at goal and struck the far post. Joel Piroe was unable to slam home the rebound.

Farke sent on Daniel James and he added some missing urgency up top. Mateo Joseph gave the centre-backs more to think about. The pair linked up a few times and it should have brought a goal but when James' incredible outside-of-the-boot cross came in the young striker fluffed his lines.

All the while, Tanaka was the man keeping Leeds ticking as they played on the front foot to allay their manager's fears. Farke admitted later that the early 2-0 lead had worried him. Conceding a goal worried him. The idea of dropping deeper and deeper and inviting pressure worried him. Taking the game to Watford and creating the better chances for the next goal delighted him.

Yes, it was harder work than it should have been after that electric start but on a night when bad things so easily could have come to pass, Leeds United won a game of association football, picked up three points and rolled on. Six unbeaten, level on points with league leaders Sunderland and able to properly mark the birthdays of Aaronson and Rodon. Good things are happening at Elland Road.

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