Leeds Utd news: Whites on the brink of promotion after defeating Oxford Utd
Leeds United beat Oxford United 1-0 in the Championship on Friday to make it three wins in a row and set themselves up to be promoted as early as Monday.
After promotion rivals Sheffield United and Burnley had won their games earlier in the day, Leeds needed to hold their nerve if they wished to return to the top of the Championship standings, and that is exactly what they did.
In the end, a well-worked team goal finished off by Manor Solomon at the back post just after the half-hour mark was enough to separate the two sides and send Leeds back to the summit.
Sports News Blitz writer Niall Togher reports on a vital victory at the Kassam Stadium.
Dominant Whites grab important victory
Despite the rowdy atmosphere, it was a largely dominant performance from the visitors as they gave up zero big chances and arguably should have won the game by more than the one goal.
It was Karl Darlow who made the first meaningful save of the game, though, with the Welshman denying Cameron Brannagan’s curling effort from range in the seventh minute.
Leeds subsequently began to grow into the game and fashion chances of their own.
Ao Tanaka played the ball into the feet of Joel Piroe, who turned and slid a precise ball through to Brenden Aaronson, but the American’s shot was saved.
The Whites eventually took the lead when Joe Rodon played a pinpoint pass down the right flank for Jayden Bogle to run on to.
He flashed a low cross across the box and Solomon was on hand to finish it off at the back post to make it four goal contributions for the winger in his last three games.
In the second half, Bogle continued to make himself a nuisance in the Oxford box as the right-back spurned a pair of chances.
Tanaka then had a crack from range in the 87th minute that cannoned back off the post, but United were able to defend well and see out the rest of the game to secure the three points.
READ MORE: Frank Lampard’s Coventry City revival: Can he guide them back to the Premier League?
More brilliance from Bogle
That Bogle was written off as a ‘defensive liability’ by some supporters at the start of the campaign just goes to show how misguided the fanbase can be at times.
Bogle has quietly been one of Leeds’ best players this term and arguably their signing of the season.
The right-back has been instrumental in manager Daniel Farke’s change of system, with two attacking full-backs now in use rather than one.
Due to the amount of control Leeds have in the majority of games, they can afford to commit both full-backs to the final third in order to gain a numerical advantage against stubborn low blocks.
Bogle’s assist on Friday was his third of the season – add that to his six goals and you have the output of a winger.
Indeed, when Leeds United CEO Angus Kinnear declared on The Square Ball podcast back in September that the Whites “have been able to get a right-back who will be able to perform this season at the same level as Archie Gray, for an eighth of the value we got for Archie Gray” in reference to the signing of Bogle, many were sceptical, but time has shown Kinnear to be right and it now looks to have been a savvy £5 million spent by Leeds.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Manchester United Women’s team head to Portugal this summer…for a seven-a-side
Another superb Rodon performance
Rodon has been outstanding at the heart of the Leeds defence for nearly two seasons, but Friday's performance was superb even by his lofty standards.
The Welshman’s ability to carry the ball out from the back was instrumental in the build-up to the goal, and he was a defensive colossus throughout the game, making two vital challenges as the last man in defence.
Whilst the games have been getting tighter and scrappier near the back-end of the season, Rodon has been a calming influence in the Leeds defence, winning 31 out of 35 duels in April so far – the best ratio in the Championship.
After getting used to seeing defensive calamities week after week for two seasons in the Premier League, having an assertive figure in defence is a welcome sight for Leeds supporters.
Ultimately, if Leeds do go up, Rodon will be a big reason why.
READ NEXT: Man City news: Midfield maestro Kevin De Bruyne to leave Etihad this summer
Match-up with Stoke potentially the final hurdle
The game against Stoke at Elland Road on Easter Monday could prove the final hurdle for Leeds in their quest to return to the Premier League.
In fact, if Leeds beat Stoke and Sheffield United fail to beat Burnley, then the Whites will be promoted.
With Leeds moreover playing before the Burnley–Sheffield United match, nerves shouldn't be a problem.
Farke’s side, then, seem to have put their recent wobble in form firmly in the rear-view mirror and at just the right time too.
On the other hand, while Stoke’s relegation from the Championship is unlikely, the mathematical possibility could be inspiring enough to cause Leeds problems, so Farke and his men will have to watch out.
MORE FROM NIALL TOGHER: Leeds Utd news: Daniel Farke’s dilemma – Should Junior Firpo stay or go?
