The strength of Leeds United’s squad was yet again a deciding factor as Daniel Farke’s team went five points clear of title rivals Sheffield United at the Championship’s summit.
Seven days after Joe Rothwell and Pascal Struijk combined to stun Sunderland – the former setting up the latter with two sumptuous crosses as Leeds United turned a 1-0 deficit on minute 78 into a 2-1 win on minute 95 – Farke again looked to his bench and saw a host of potential solutions.
Rothwell again entered the fray on the hour mark. The AFC Bournemouth loanee was brought on alongside Mateo Joseph with Brenden Aaronson and Ilya Gruev exiting stage left.
Perhaps the greatest impact, however, was made by Willy Gnonto.
That Farke has the luxury of introducing an Italy international who has been the subject of bids in excess of £20 million in recent transfer windows tells it’s own story.
Jermaine Beckford hails Willy Gnonto as Leeds beat Sheffield United
“The substitutes, Gnonto especially but Rothwell [too], they made a huge difference,” Leeds icon Jermaine Beckford beams. “The impact Gnonto had, especially. I am going to single him out.
“It’s very easy to come of the bench and be a little but frustarted not to start. But every time he picked the ball up, he tried to make things happen, to get crosses and shots in. It was moments like that which make you think; ‘That’s the mentality you want coming off the bench from your team mates’.”
Gnonto was a constant threat throughout his 12 minutes or so on the pitch. The former Inter Milan prospect might have had a Goal of the Season contender to show for his efforts, too, before Michael Cooper in the Sheffield United goal brilliantly tipped his dipping, curling strike over the bar.
And Beckford, who was part of the Leeds team who claimed the League One title under Simon Grayson and netted that famous winner in the FA Cup at Old Trafford back in 2010, feels that the momentum fuelling this title tilt will take some stopping.
Junior Firpo hails Leeds subs in Bramall Lane fightback
“They were brilliant,” Beckford adds. “The second half was a complete contrast to the first half. We managed to get the late goals. The belief of the players is sky high, they believe in each other, they trust each other, they know what they are capable of doing.
“They wear opposition teams down, with constant pressure of moving the ball forward. When the wide players are tired, they bring on wide players who are just as good. It’s a defenders nightmare.”
Junior Firpo levelled the scores on the night after a wonderful Dan James assist, thus laying the foundations for Ao Tanaka’s gorgeous header and Joel Piroe’s thumping, 90th minute clincher.
Firpo agrees with Beckford’s assessment, feeling that the quality of Leeds’ substitutions – for the second time in just seven days – may have been the biggest difference between a potentially disastrous defeat and a potentially fate-sealing victory.
“We had options off the bench,” Firpo says. “I think they changed the game when they came on. We got what we deserved.”
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