Leeds thumped Chelsea on Wednesday night as Daniel Farke watched his side record a crucial 3-1 win.
A run of four consecutive defeats in the Premier League was ended as goals from Jaka Bijol, Ao Tanaka and Dominic Calvert-Lewin moved Leeds up to 17th.
There were many stellar displays across the pitch, but Gary Neville felt two Leeds players in particular had “beaten” Chelsea up throughout the game in Lukas Nmecha and Calvert-Lewin.
Gary Neville hails Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha during Leeds United win
Farke named a 3-5-2 with the England international and the Germany international leading the line, and both impressed Neville.
What a win! Who was your Man of the Match? 🔥
Speaking on commentary duty for Sky Sports, the 50-year-old said: “The (Chelsea) centre-backs have been sloppy all night. You’ve just got to welly it up the pitch, what are you doing trying to control it in there? That front two for Leeds have beaten Chelsea up for 72 minutes.”
After causing havoc together in the second half at Manchester City, it was exciting to see Nmecha and Calvert-Lewin partner each other from the off against Chelsea, with the tactic working superbly for Farke.
Daniel Farke finds genius way to cope at Leeds United after Dan James injury
After it was revealed on Tuesday that Dan James had suffered a serious hamstring injury – and is set to spend at least two months out of action – many fans feared for a Leeds attack that had only scored 13 goals in 13 games coming into the win over Chelsea.
Re-live Ao Tanaka’s rocket against Chelsea 🚀
However, in utilising Jayden Bogle and Gabriel Gudmundsson as wing-backs supporting Nmecha and Calvert-Lewin, Farke has found a way to cover for the loss of a key winger in his usual 4-2-3-1 formation.
With Farke under pressure this week after four consecutive defeats, the German may well have found a way to keep his job and get Leeds ticking in the Premier League with this 3-5-2 system.
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