Such is the quality of Leeds United’s squad these days, Daniel Farke has the luxury of bringing in a player who scored a goal against Real Madrid last season into his starting XI.
A decision rewarded, meanwhile, as Largie Ramazani netted the only goal of the game as Leeds edged past Harrogate Town in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday evening.
It was not a performance that will live long in the memory – a classic case of an underperforming attack up against a solid, resilient backline – but in a game relatively low on goal-bound action, the £9 million summer signing from Almeria ensured that the home side’s dominance would eventually count for something.
After some fine approach play from Manor Solomon, weaving his way down the left before floating a cross into the box, Ramazani, who was signed for £10m, did something he has not done since his days across the Pennines with Manchester United’s reserves.
He scored a header.
Much to the relief of former Leeds United goalkeeper Paul Robinson, Ramazani’s forehead flick on the stroke of the hour ensuring that the Championship leaders will be involved in the draw for the competition’s fourth round.
Paul Robinson praises Leeds United matchwinner Largie Ramazani
“He is the best player on the pitch,” Robinson told BBC Sport. “Largie Ramazani is six yards out, completely unmarked. He finds himself with the freedom of the six-yard box and heads into an empty net to give Leeds a deserved lead.”
For Robinson, despite Harrogate’s best efforts, this was no less than a dominant Leeds deserved. Farke’s side mustered 21 shots to the visitors five, not to mention 66 per cent of the possession.
Then again, that was to be expected given the colossal gap between the two sides in the Football League pyramid.
“It’s been a dominant performance,” the one-time England international adds. “The scoreline might not suggest that but, possession wise and [based on the number of] opportunities, Leeds have controlled the game.
“At the same time, at 1-0, it has never been overly comfortable for them.”
Daniel Farke’s team edge through as Ilia Gruev makes return
In what was a much-changed line up from Farke, Leeds hosted their fourth-tier Yorkshire rivals with a rather mix and match team made up of regular starters and seldom-seen fringe men.
Isaac Schmidt and Joshua Guilvagoui made rare starts in a makeshift backline, Karl Darlow came in for the under-fire Illan Meslier in goal, and Mateo Joseph begun the game with Leeds’ striker duo Joel Piroe and Patrick Bamford absent.
There was also a return to the selection for Ilia Gruev.
The Bulgaria international had not featured for three months due to injury, until Farke brought him on from the bench in the second-half as Leeds were forced to hang nervously on to the lead given to them by Ramazani with 59 minutes on the clock.
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