Pre-match Leeds United tussle and early bird gets the Middlesbrough staff going among off-camera moments from Whites win — YEP 11/12/24
By Joe Donnohue
Joe Donnohue selects those who had good days and bad days,
as well as the moments the cameras didn’t pick up as Leeds United beat
Middlesbrough 3-1 on Tuesday evening.
GOOD DAY
Daniel Farke - The manager has faced criticism throughout
his Leeds tenure but there can be no arguing with the manner in which United
have seen off promotion challengers over the past 18 months. Middlesbrough
became the latest side, after Ipswich Town, Leicester City and this season
Sheffield United, to leave Elland Road with nothing more than tails between
their legs.
Max Wober - Despite all Farke's talk of Wober not possessing
the same attacking verve of the man he was replacing at left-back, Leeds did
not miss Junior Firpo all that much and the Austrian fared pretty well against
Ben Doak on the defensive side of things.
Dan James - Man of the Match with a hand in all three goals,
James is probably Leeds' most consistent threat right now and even with the
likes of Willy Gnonto, Manor Solomon and Largie Ramazani as fit and available
competition for his place, shouldn't come out of the starting lineup any time
soon.
Sam Byram - Leeds' defensive utility man showed once more
that it would have been a mistake to let him leave at the end of his one-year
deal over the summer. Performances like Byram's on Tuesday night, in a game of
such importance, justify his extension and solidifies his position as one of
this squad's unsung heroes.
BAD DAY
Max Wober - Returning to the team, Wober probably couldn't
have dreamt of a redemption scenario better than if he found the back of the
net in back-to-back games at Elland Road. Unfortunately for him, on Tuesday
night it was his own net. Ironically, it was the first headed goal Leeds have
conceded this season.
Mateo Joseph - The youngster was given the nod ahead of top
scorer Joel Piroe but found it difficult to take his chance. Joseph's
contribution in build-up phases and with his back to goal was noticeable but in
the final third, the ball did not fall for him and there was an element of
'trying too hard' in his performance.
Manor Solomon - Goals for James and Gnonto mean it'll be
difficult for Farke to change his starting lineup at the weekend. As Ao Tanaka
went clean through for Leeds' third, Solomon was a split-second from receiving
James' pass, then squeezed out as Brenden Aaronson swept in the clincher. The
Spurs loanee didn't look best pleased as the American netted, either, but soon
joined in the celebrations.
OFF-CAMERA MOMENTS
Unused substitute Luke Ayling and Dan James catching up on
the pitch before the game.
Boro boss Michael Carrick receiving pelters from the select
number of home fans already inside the ground 90 minutes before kick-off. Boro
staff members picked up on the particular jibe directed the ex-Manchester
United player's way and saw the funny side.
Skipper Ethan Ampadu and Charlie Crew having a playful
pre-match tussle in the substitutes' warm-up rondo. Ampadu, who made his
professional debut at 15, knows a thing or two about being the young pretender
and behind the scenes is known to be very good with the Leeds youngsters.
It's usually the players who demonstrate their faith upon
walking out onto the pitch, whether it be touching the turf as they cross the
white line, kissing an item of jewellery or pointing to a higher power up
above. On Tuesday night, it was one of the assistant referees performing the
latter gesture, which isn't quite the same as a Premier League referee saying
'Hello, there' to the matchball as he exited the tunnel once, but was
definitely out of the ordinary.