1 week Ago
The 1-0 victory at the Riverside ended their poor recent run of just one win in six games as Dan James netted his 12th league goal of the season. With Burnley held at Derby and Sheffield United surprisingly losing at home to Millwall, the Whites moved from third to first ahead of the Clarets on goal difference while the Blades are two points adrift. With their automatic promotion rivals still to play each other at Turf Moor on Easter Monday Leeds have regained control of their destiny but with five games to go the Championship is bound to provide more surprises in the run to the finish line.
Once again James proved United’s biggest attacking threat and with just two minutes gone showed the desire to force his way into the box to knock in Manor Soloman’s cross via the underside of the bar. Under Daniel Farke Leeds don’t lose when they score first – a sequence that stretched to 47 matches. Although they were severely tested by Boro in the closing stages Leeds held on for victory which should have been more comfortable scoreline but for two officiating blunders.
Both Ao Tanaka and Patrick Bamford had goals ruled out for offside when television replays showed both efforts should have stood. It was by no means a perfect performance but United always carried a threat going forward while Boro were let down by poor shooting. Michael Carrick’s men did have the ball in the net when Leeds made a mess of clearing a corner but Tommy Conway was flagged, correctly, for offside as he struck the ball past goalkeeper Karl Darlow.
Leeds showed two sides to their game. In the first half they attacked with control and movement while in the second they showed their defensive qualities with Joe Rodon and Ethan Ampadu excellent in front of goalkeeper Karl Darlow. Farke, less than impressed by the scrubbing off of two goals by the officials, heaped praise on his team.
“In the end we found a way to win this game. It was important to return to a clean sheet. We had to dig in.
"We were a bit tired and also had to deal with a few injuries. Boro were in red-hot form. We had to dig in and show steel.
“In the end it was a hard-fought game and a deserved win. There’s no replacement for this winning feeling. "The boys can be proud of themselves.
” Victory did come at a cost with in-form match-winner James going off with a hamstring problem which could rule him out of Saturday’s home game against Preston. With defender Pascal Struijk an midfielder Joe Rothwell already out through injury Farke’s squad is being stretched to the limit at a critical time. Burnley host Norwich on Friday night and Sheffield United travel to bottom club Plymouth on Saturday.
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