The Leeds United faithful are used to seeing their beloved side do things the hard way.
So the nature of Friday’s 1-0 win over Oxford was as refreshing as it was commanding. A club with more collapses to their name than Gillian McKeith in the Australian outback delivering a performance of pure professionalism and an assured self-confidence just when the pressure was at it’s most crushing.
Now this, with the exception of that thrilling Championship winning campaign under Marcelo Bielsa in 2019/20, is not usually how Leeds United do things.
And as Daniel Farke’s side stumbled into a run of one win in six from early March to early April – dropping points against Portsmouth, West Brom, QPR, Swansea and Luton Town – lightning looked set to strike twice and fry the bubbling brains of those still stinging from last year’s Wembley no-show.
Three successive wins, though, has Leeds back on the right track, and back at the summit.
Leeds can now secure promotion to the Premier League on Monday. Providing they beat Stoke City at Elland Road and Sheffield United slip up against Burnley.
Even the injury gods appear to be smiling down on Leeds at the moment.
Daniel Farke allays Manor Solomon fears as Leeds United edge past Oxford
Dan James recovered in time to make a cameo appearance off the bench in Oxfordshire. And while hearts may have entered mouths when Manor Solomon went down clutching his leg late on, Farke insists this was merely cramp and nothing more serious.
“Let’s see if Daniel James if available [for Easter Monday],” Farke said at full-time. “Solomon had some cramps. I suspect he will also be ready for the [Stoke] game.”
Solomon combined beautifully with the brilliant Jayden Bogle as Leeds scored the only goal of the game with 33 minutes on the clock. In truth, only the ‘sensational’ Joe Rodon stopped Solomon and Bogle competing for the Man of the Match award.
The Tottenham Hotspur loanee had gone eight Championship games without a goal or an assist, coinciding with Leeds’ poor run. He now has four in three.
Farke delighted as Leeds show title-winning resilience at the Kassam
Solomon was ‘outstanding’ as Leeds beat Preston North End last weekend. He scored a sublime opener before turning provider for Bogle, a gift which would be reciprocated five days later.
One more of each, and Solomon will have ten goals and ten assists to his name. A ‘double-double’, as they tend to call it these days.
“So difficult, this game,” Farke adds, Leeds forced to sit through a spell of Oxford pressure at the death albeit while always looking in full control of the situation.
“Very happy. We had lots of control. They tried in the second-half to push for it. If you don’t score the second goal, then you have to show resilience and defend without any mistakes. They had one chance in the first half and it was a good save from Karl [Darlow, denying Cameron Brannagan in the seventh minute].
“We didn’t allow them one more chance. I am pretty proud of the lads because it was a massive win for us and a top performance.
“When the long balls or throw-ins are coming in, anything can happen. We are not the tallest side, we are not the most physical side.
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