Leeds Utd analysis: Impressive win over Millwall settles the nerves; QPR thoughts
Championship leaders Leeds United established a four-point lead over third-placed Burnley after a 2-0 win over Millwall at Elland Road on Wednesday night.
Daniel Farke’s high-flying Whites slumped to a shock defeat away to Portsmouth last weekend, so needed a response in midweek.
Sports News Blitz writer Niall Togher gives his analysis of the win over the Lions.
Alarm bells were ringing
With the defeat away against Portsmouth ending Leeds United’s 17-game unbeaten run and all-but evaporating their cushion at the top of the table, alarm bells began to ring again in certain sections of the Leeds United fanbase.
Were Leeds about to fall apart again? How typical would it be that after beating Sunderland and Sheffield United, Leeds would begin to capitulate?
But no. At least not for now. This season feels different.
A point against West Brom at home that appeared solid at the time soon became a disappointing result when it was followed up by the defeat against Portsmouth.
Wednesday night was a big game for Leeds; dropping more points would have been disastrous, particularly when the Whites had been let off the hook with promotion rivals Sheffield United and Burnley both dropping points on Tuesday night.
It wasn’t a vintage performance by any stretch of the imagination, but it was a controlled display that got the job done, and that’s all that matters now with nine games remaining as Leeds extended their gap to third-place Burnley to four points.
Rothwell influential
This season, Leeds United are a more dynamic and dangerous team with Joe Rothwell in it, and Wednesday night was just further evidence.
United took the lead three minutes in after Rothwell dispossessed Casper De Norre before linking up with Joel Piroe and driving into the box.
Eventually, the ball fell to Manor Solomon, whose left-footed cross somehow deflected off of Jake Cooper and went straight in to settle the nerves around Elland Road.
A scrappy goal that somewhat characterised the rest of the first half.
This goal quite simply does not happen with Ilia Gruev on the pitch.
Rothwell progresses the ball quicker, can drive with the ball into space and makes Leeds a threat from set-pieces.
Another quality performance from him makes it a real no-brainer with who should be partnering Ao Tanaka in midfield for the run-in.
A superb attacking move from Brenden Aaronson and Piroe that resulted in a goal for the Dutchman being wrongfully disallowed for offside was the last notable action Leeds had in the first half.
Goals from midfield crucial
Leeds did a better job at controlling proceedings in the second half, with their possession being 67%, a 12% increase from the first half.
Leeds also had 10 more shots and almost tripled their expected goals for the second half whilst limiting Millwall to an xG of just 0.2 across the entire game.
Solomon had an effort that grazed the bar, and Aaronson came close with a half volley from outside the box, but the Whites had to wait until the 85th minute before they added a second goal and put the game to bed.
Solomon and Junior Firpo did well down the left-hand side, with Solomon dribbling into the box before giving the ball to Firpo, who cut back before delicately rolling the ball to the edge of the box, and Tanaka was on hand to arrive late and fire his shot into the top left corner.
This is another string Farke’s side have added to their bow to make them a more dangerous and well-rounded team as opposed to last season's lack of goals from midfield.
Tanaka has already scored that crucial goal this season against Sheffield United, but his ball-striking abilities in and around the edge of the box give Leeds a different way to break down the low blocks that was not available to them last season due to Glen Kamara’s seeming inability to even attempt a shot.
For as tidy as Kamara was on the ball for Leeds last season, Tanaka offers you the same quality with a more combative nature and the ability to score goals, which is one of the reasons why we see Leeds not being frustrated by low blocks as frequently as they were last season.
Looking to Loftus Road
Up next for Leeds is another dreaded early kick-off away at Loftus Road, with United only winning a meagre two out of their 10 games that have kicked off before 3pm this season.
It was in April last year when Leeds were thumped 4-0 by QPR to all-but end their automatic promotion hopes.
On Saturday, Leeds can take another step towards promotion and do it against a side that all-but condemned us to another year in the Championship.
Another flat away performance just won’t cut it.
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