Joel Piroe dominated the headlines as Daniel Farke’s Leeds United kept their Championship title charge chugging along with a 2-0 win at Stoke City on Boxing Day.
But while the £10 million signing from Swansea City would score both goals as the Yorkshire giants responded emphatically to criticism over their worrying away form, it was another of Farke’s men who laid the foundations for a result which lifted The Whites back to the top of the table following Sheffield United’s defeat by Burnley.
Even in the fog of war, as they say, a Lewis Koumas shot is still visible.
The Liverpool loanee very nearly gave Stoke the lead in the floodlight lit Potteries, Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier reacting superbly to push away Koumas’ effort from point-blank range.
Meslier has come in for criticism this season. But, when at his sharpest, there is arguably no shot-stopper in the whole of the Championship with reactions as quick as his.
Daniel Farke hails Illan Meslier as Leeds United beat Stoke City
“The save was crucial and he proved again his worth,” Farke told reporters at full-time, Stoke denied a second-minute opener as they endured a ninth successive game without a win. “He can also celebrate the clean sheet.
“Happy with the result, happy with the win. It is not that easy when you have to play the last game [of the day] after a long wait, especially on the road. It’s sometimes tricky.
“You always speak about focus on yourself, but the players are not robots. Of course, they hear about the other results [and] it’s not easy to deliver a good performance.”
In his pre-match press conference, Stoke boss Narcis Pelach admitted he expected Leeds to dominate possession as they have ‘against every team’ in the league this season.
He wasn’t wrong.
Daniel Farke’s side averaged a remarkable 76 per cent of the ball in Thursday’s late kick off. Dominant, even by their standards. Leeds also mustered 20 shots to their hosts three, although Pelach cannot help wonder how differently things might have turned out had Meslier not palmed Koumas’ effort aside mere moments after kick-off.
Stoke boss Narcis Pelach highlights Meslier’s crucial save
“It was a good chance but Meslier made a good save and reacted well to it,” the former Huddersfield Town assistant sighs.
“We are disappointed with the result. Leeds are a very good side and they make it difficult for all the teams, not just for us. We had a good chance with Lewis and didn’t score and we knew they were going to have the ball more than us and they [force us to defend] deep.
“They are a good team. When you try to press them, they have speed and when they break chances they create chances from that. We got beaten by quality.”
Leeds travel to Derby County next time out before hosting high-flying Blackburn Rovers at Elland Road on New Years’ Day. After Farke’s side thrashed Oxford United 4-0 in West Yorkshire last time out, this was another convincing, one-sided victory.
One which puts Leeds top of the table, and leaves Meslier only two behind Sheffield United’s Michael Cooper in the clean sheet race.
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