Blackburn Rovers v Leeds United: Daniel Farke on Rovers respect as 7,000-plus Darwen End provide winter fuel for visitors again — Yorkshire Post 29/11/24
By Leon Wobschall
IF ANYONE can vouch for the tactical acumen of John Eustace,
it’s Daniel Farke.
Leeds United were beaten twice by a team managed by the
Midlander last season and on each occasion, Farke’s side lost while failing to
get on the scoresheet.
Early on in 2023-24, Leeds lost out 1-0 to a Birmingham City
side who made impressive strides under Eustace before his hugely controversial
sacking, with Blues imploding after his departure.
Eustace returned to management at Ewood Park in February and
presided over a shock single-goal triumph for Blackburn at Elland Road in April
to derail Leeds’ promotion bandwagon.
The tactically smart side of Eustace was also showcased at
the likes of Leicester and Sunderland last term, while it was in evidence on
Wednesday when they stymied a free-scoring Middlesbrough side by virtue of a
1-0 win on Teesside.
After impressing in a mid-block in the first half, Rovers’
low-block tactics frustrated Boro on the restart and they nicked a well-taken
goal to win it.
The result may have constituted a surprise to many, but not
Farke, who also believes that his side’s extra day’s preparation is negated by
the fact that Blackburn’s match last weekend was postponed.
He said: "I was not surprised (on Wednesday) because in
this league, anything can happen.
"But I was impressed, of course, if you are capable of
winning a game away at Middlesbrough – and also a clean sheet – it is always
the sign of a quality team. But I was not that surprised.
"Blackburn have showed this, more or less through this
season. If they win their game in hand – and you should expect this - they will
also sit in the top six and are one of the top teams in the division. They have
proved this with good results and performances.
"It is not an easy place to go, especially as they’ve
had a bit more time in the last week to recover on the training pitch and for
us, it’s the third game within six days, so it’s a tough test for us.
"But we don’t complain and just want to make sure we
are on it again.
"We expect a tight game and having to fight and use
each and every per cent in order to give ourselves a chance of winning as many
games as possible."
It may be United’s third game in six days, but the sight of
a 7,000-plus travelling contingent packing out the Darwen End, as Leeds
invariably do in that part of Lancashire, should provide a team talk in its own
way at a venue where the Yorkshire outfit have enjoyed themselves in the past
in winter time.
Farke said: "It’s outstanding and the supporters are
the most valuable aspect of this club.
"It’s second to none and they are very enthusiastic and
can play an important part of being the ‘12th man’ in home and away games.
"Sometimes, this ‘emotionality’ and overriding voice
can be a bit difficult for young players and it’s up to me to make sure they
keep their nerves and stay cool in emotional situations, perhaps.
"But overall, we need this support and big unity
together with our supporters.
"To have such a travelling support for an away game is
amazing and extra motivation to make our fans happy - not just the travelling
ones, but those nail-biting at home."
Junior Firpo is back from a three-match suspension for
Leeds, who have a fitness doubt regarding Sam Byram, with the club awaiting on
scan results after he came off in the midweek victory over Luton Town.