It rather sums up the nature of this season’s Golden Boot race that, while Joel Piroe extended his barren streak to nine games away to Oxford on Friday night, the Leeds United frontman is still in with a shot.
In fact, while the former Swansea City striker has not found the net since he twisted the dagger on Chris Wilder with a late thunderbolt at Bramall Lane in February, he remains only two adrift of Norwich City talisman Borja Sainz.
Joel Piroe has 15. Sainz, who himself failed to hit the target between December and March, has 17.
So while Leeds can secure a return to the Premier League against Stoke City on Easter Monday, Piroe can also take an almighty step towards a piece of personal glory if he gets back on the scoring trail at long last.
In a season shorn of an Aleksandr Mitrovic, a Glenn Murray or a Chuba Akpom – not since the late Cardiff City legend Peter Whittingham in 2019/20 has the Golden Boot been sealed with fewer than 21 goals – Piroe and Sainz are battling it out to be named the best of a rather limited bunch.
As such, if there are doubts about Piroe’s ability to hit the target consistently at Championship level in a Leeds United shirt, it almost goes without saying that the Yorkshire giants will be prioritising a new number nine in the event of promotion.
Leeds have been linked with Ukrainian marksman Vladyslav Vanat. Nice talisman Evann Guessand has been mentioned in the media, too, alongside Championship duo Wilson Isidor and Josh Sargent of Sunderland and Norwich City respectively.
Wilson Isidor’s goals dry up as Leeds United eye Sunderland striker
Now, Sargent went level with Piroe as he struck a 15th league goal on Friday, Norwich City losing 5-3 at home to Portsmouth in a thrilling encounter.
His 15 goals have come in just 25 starts, however, compared to Piroe’s 33. Sargent has struggled with injuries at times this season, though his record of a goal every 149 minutes is better than any of the other forwards in Golden Boot contention.
Isidor, meanwhile, is averaging a goal every 244 minutes. For context, Piroe’s average stands at 190.
In fact, since reports emerged in February suggesting that Leeds are considering the spring-heeled Sunderland striker, Isidor slipped into a barren run which extends even further back than Piroe’s.
After ten games without one, ironically enough, the last time Isidor’s name appeared on the scoresheet he was putting Sunderland 1-0 up at Elland Road in mid-February.
And what a goal it was. Spinning away from Ethan Ampadu, Isidor shifted the ball onto his left foot and drilled a pinpoint finish in off the far post.
“I watched him for Sunderland in the recent game against Leeds United. He was outstanding and has that touch of class about him,” former Leeds midfielder Carlton Palmer told Football League World. “His goal was outstanding, his touch and movement…”
Isidor’s golden touch has deserted him since then. And with only four starts in his last nine appearances, it is far from a guarantee that the £5 million signing from Zenit St Petersburg will even feature on Regis Le Bris’ team sheet when the play-offs begin.
Isidor loses his starting spot as Sunderland prepare for the play-offs
Isidor watched on from the bench as Elizier Mayenda – the man who took his place at Bristol City on Friday – burned through Liam Manning’s backline to score a solo goal reminiscent of the one Isidor produced at Hull City months ago.
To quote The Chronicle, Isidor resembles ‘a shadow of his former self’ at present.
He has always appeared less a great goalscorer and more a score of great goals – only 12 in 32 starts but many of them beautifully executed – though one suspects Le Bris would happily trade one of those stunning volleys if he was to receive three tap-ins in exchange.
“Wilson was well connected with the game and I appreciated this,” Le Bris said after April’s defeat to Swansea City, instead opting to focus on the presence and the movement Isidor continues to provide in the final third.
“When a striker doesn’t score, he can be really frustrated and disconnected with the game. I don’t think Wilson was. He was connected, he tried to run in behind… it’s just a question of giving him time.
“Sometimes with a striker all it needs is one event. It can change the dynamic. I’m really confident for the future.
“Wilson fits well with the game model because he’s always in behind and is a good finisher.”
Isidor’s contribution to Sunderland’s promotion charge should not be underestimated.
But there is an almighty difference between helping take the Black Cats into the play-offs and proving himself capable of leading the line for a Leeds United side striving for Premier League survival.
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