‘Unplayable’ is a word which has come up quite a lot in recent weeks; Daniel Farke’s Leeds United taking another big step towards the Championship title with a 4-0 win away at Watford.
Any frustration the Yorkshire giants might have felt following that dull, cure-for-insomnia stalemate at Burnley towards the end of January has been dispelled emphatically during a run of three successive wins and 13 goals in the process.
After the desert of Turf Moor came the flood.
First, Cardiff City were swept away by the Leeds United tidal wave.
Leeds United maybe should have come close to replicating that 7-0 scoreline at Coventry a few days later. And, as Daniel Farke’s team moved five points clear at the top of the table at Vicarage Road, the irrepressible trio of Dan James, Manor Solomon and Joel Piroe were once again on the scoresheet.
A trio Farke, in another beaming post-match debrief, described as nothing short of ‘unplayable’.
Daniel Farke lauds Manor Solomon, Dan James and Joel Piroe as Leeds United thrash Watford
“Credit to them today. They were really unplayable,” the former Norwich City boss, chasing a third promotion out of England’s second tier, said when asked about the thrilling performances of James, Solomon and Piroe.
“Outstanding individual performances.”
James took advantage of a horrible misplaced pass to open the scoring before taking his tally to ten for the Championship campaign, lashing in from a right angle. Solomon now has eight goal contributions in his last seven matches, meanwhile, his speculative 35th minute effort deflected in.
The Tottenham Hotspur loanee turned provider for Joel Piroe as Leeds wrapped up another commanding win in stoppage time, squaring as the dainty Dutchman danced through and slotted home.
Manor Solomon is keen to ensure that Leeds’ backline gets the credit it deserves after a 20th clean sheet in 32 matches, insisting that Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu, Jayden Bogle, Junior Firpo and Illan Meslier lay the foundation for their free-scoring attackers to do what they do best.
That was a point Farke parroted with Meslier now just five away from matching the Championship record of clean sheets in a 46-game season.
Farke hails Leeds’ defence and highlights Dan James improvement
“[Our attackers] are able to shine because we had a good organisation,” Farke adds, Leeds high-pressing also key to unlocking the Watford backline. “We were able to win the ball in interesting areas and they were able to use their quality.”
Farke criticised Dan James after he missed Leeds’ best chances away at title rivals Burnley a few weeks ago. That was a rare off-day in front of goal, however, for a man who has blossomed into one of the division’s most reliable contributors in the final third.
“Daniel perhaps could have scored a few more [against Watford] but, overall, on the counter-attack it was a really, really good performance,” Farke says, the Welshman outgrowing his reputation as something of a penalty-box jigsaw and falling to pieces with the goal at his mercy.
“I am a big fan of James, of his skills and his character. There was criticism of his goals and assists [previously] but we have worked in this topic. We have given him a few details. He is always open to execute it so all the praise goes to him.”
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
