Leeds United made a significant comeback from the international break, securing a vital 2-0 victory against Sheffield United at Elland Road on Friday night.
This win is particularly crucial as it positions Leeds against a team that is expected to be in the race for automatic promotion to the Premier League.
After a scoreless first half, Leeds seized control of the match in the second half. Pascal Struijk opened the scoring in the 69th minute and further solidified the win with a second goal in the 90th minute, ensuring that Leeds walked away with all three points.
Goalkeeper Illan Meslier also rebounded well from the defeat against Sunderland, showcasing a robust performance that resulted in a clean sheet. Throughout the season, Leeds has seen a mix of results, including draws against West Bromwich Albion, Norwich City, and Sunderland, alongside a loss to Burnley.
With this victory, Daniel Farke’s team climbed to second place in the Championship, though their position could shift depending on the outcomes of Saturday’s matches, with Burnley and West Brom potentially surpassing Leeds.
After the match, Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder expressed his admiration for Leeds, praising their exceptional style of play. He emphasized that Leeds stands out as the strongest team they have encountered all season.
“I don’t think I’m being controversial when I say that I think anybody who finishes above Leeds – and I’m not sure anybody will do from what we’ve seen of them, our analysis and the games they’ve played – will win the league,” Wilder stated, as reported by The Yorkshire Post.
He acknowledged some missed opportunities for Leeds, noting:
“They’ve dropped a couple of points, they dropped a point at Sunderland when it was game, set and match really, a smash-and-grab against Burnley (which they lost 1-0) and a couple of other games where they’ve dropped points, but it’s early in the season.”
Wilder continued, recognizing the mutual desire for improvement among teams, stating:
“Daniel will recognize that as well and they’ll want to improve as much as we do. If they take a step back, they’ll come forward. We have to take a step forward from our performance tonight.” He concluded, “Leeds are by far and away the best team we’ve played all season.”
