Leeds United returned to the Championship’s top six on Saturday afternoon with a solid 2-0 away win over Cardiff City, a third league win of the season.
Goals from Largie Ramazani and substitute Joel Piroe saw Leeds secure a third win of the season. All three wins have come via the same result, having beaten Sheffield Wednesday and Hull City by the same result.
But a clean sheet and a 2-0 away win in the Championship does not tell the whole story. Fans bemoaned the lack of incision made by Leeds, even if Ramazani missed a sitter and Pascal Struijk missed a penalty.
Daniel Farke was disappointed Leeds didn’t wrap it up earlier in his post-match press conference. One player that needs to find his shooting boots is Mateo Joseph, going another game without scoring a goal.
The Spain U21 star has just one goal in his six Championship starts. While he has three assists, there is one key area where Joseph is really struggling even if Farke compared him to Man City’s Erling Haaland.
Mateo Joseph struggling in the air for Leeds this season
According to WhoScored, Joseph has been involved in 20 aerial duels this season during his six league appearances. But the striker has only managed to win two of those, one of which came against Cardiff.
He’s lost a whopping 18 aerial duels as the youngster looks to back himself against the rough and ready Championship centre-backs. It is an area that Farke will need his first-choice striker to improve greatly.
Indeed, if Leeds are to withhold pressure and get the best out of Brenden Aaronson, Wilfried Gnonto and the other attacking players then Joseph needs to improve in the air or, he may find himself on the bench.
Patrick Bamford is fit and Joel Piroe is firing for Leeds, again
Joseph will know that while he is first choice, there are two Championship goalscorers sitting on the bench and ready to take their opportunity. Bamford was back on the bench on Saturday after an injury.
| Name | Clubs | Apps | Aerial duels | Duels won |
| Kieffer Moore | Sheffield United | 6 | 55 | 31 |
| Tom Bradshaw | Millwall | 3 | 29 | 5 |
| Makhtar Gueye | Blackburn | 5 | 41 | 19 |
| Yuki Ohashi | Blackburn | 6 | 33 | 11 |
| Emil Riis | Preston | 6 | 28 | 7 |
| Michael Frey | QPR | 6 | 29 | 9 |
| Lyle Foster | Burnley | 5 | 26 | 8 |
| Mateo Joseph | Leeds | 6 | 20 | 2 |
Piroe came off the bench to score again, having done so in the win over Hull. Farke said Piroe is the best finisher in the Championship before Saturday’s game and his goal will have done him plenty of favours.
With Coventry up next, it is still likely that Joseph gets the nod given he has laid on three assists this term. Dan James said Joseph has been “brilliant” this term but Bamford and Piroe are waiting and raring to go.
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