It was only Manor Solomon’s fifth start in the Championship after joining Leeds United on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, but already the winger is starting to understand England’s second tier.
On Sunday afternoon, Solomon was named in Daniel Farke’s starting line-up. It came as a bit of a surprise, given the Israel skipper was promoted from the bench in place of Wilfried Gnonto to take on Swansea.
Gnonto had gone off the boil a touch of late, but Farke chose to start Solomon and Dan James out wide and ultimately, it proved to be the right decision. James got two assists, arguably three in the 4-3 victory.
Solomon scored his first goals for Leeds, netting a brace with the on-loan Tottenham man scoring from close range on both occasions. Leeds’ first and third, helping send Leeds to the top of the league table.
Manor Solomon weighs up Leeds United’s chances of promotion
Last season, the ethos behind from Leeds in the media was taking every game as it comes, hoping but not expecting to be in the promotion mix. This time, it is different. Everyone is hell-bent on promotion.
Speaking to LUTV after Gnonto had come off the bench to score an injury-time winner to secure a ninth victory, Solomon said that if Leeds are to win promotion, then they need to win games like Sunday’s win.
“We played against a tough opposition,” Solomon said, following the hard-fought win in Wales. One of the best possession sides that I have faced so far. So it was difficult but in the end we gave everything.
“We got the three points and if you want to get promotion and be at the top of the league, this is the kind of game you need to be able to win. We did it today and we’re really pleased,” Solomon continued.
Manor Solomon’s stats for Leeds United against Swansea…
Solomon has struggled of late. Shining on debut against Hull, he made a mistake for the only goal of the game in the 1-0 home defeat to Burnley – slipping, allowing Burnley to counter, Luca Koleosho scoring.
Solomon shines as Leeds secure late win:
- Two goals – XG+XA was 1.38
- Three shots, five touches in opposition box
- 37 touches, 18 successful passes, 20 attempted
- Two interceptions, six recoveries, two duels won
While he might not have contributed greatly to the overall build-up phase, or put as much a defensive shift in as Gnonto might do, Solomon was clinical in front of goal. A kind of top-tier efficiency in attack.
Farke will have known that Swansea like to keep the ball and there will have been gaps on the counter. Playing the rocket-fast Solomon and James suited facing Swansea, while Gnonto will surely come back in.
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
