Leeds United manager Daniel Farke changed the flow of the game against Sunderland on Monday night with his substitutes. While his side were trailing 1-0 at home, the Leeds boss threw in Joe Rothwell and Pascal Struijk into the game to change the home team’s fortunes. The two combined beautifully to score the two late goals that earned Leeds all three points at Elland Road. The German has attracted praise for ensuring that he had two players who are dangerous from set-piece situations towards the end of the game when Leeds piled the pressure on the away side who were left trying to just hold on to what they got but it was not enough.
The three points against Sunderland helped Leeds to get back to the top of the Championship table and they now have a big lead over teams outside the promotion spots.
The win for the home side also kind of knocked Sunderland out of the automatic promotion race and they are now expected to finish in the playoff spots at least.
Leeds now have a real edge in the race to not only finish in the automatic promotion spots but to win the Championship on their way back to the Premier League.
However, Sunderland gave a good account of themselves and the Leeds side were pushed all the way at Elland Road on Monday night
Farke needed to change things up to shift the tide of the game and Struijk and Rothwell combined brilliantly to win all three points for the Yorkshire giants.
‘I wanted to get strong in set-piece’ – Daniel Farke revealed what he told Struijk and Rothwell
Leeds were struggling to create clear-cut chance against a disciplined Sunderland backline and there was palpable nervousness inside Elland Road as the game wore on in the second half.
Farke admitted that he brought Struijk and Rothwell on as he realised that he needed his Leeds side to become more of a threat from set-pieces towards the end of the game.
Rothwell’s ability to deliver brilliant crosses inside the box and Struijk’s ability to get on the end of those balls eventually changed the game for Leeds.
The Leeds boss conceded that he was battling with the decision as he didn’t really want to throw Struijk into such an intense game since he recently returned from a hamstring injury but ultimately took that chance.
“I knew and told them I wanted to get stronger at set-pieces, but the players [Struijk and Rothwell] had to put that into action and they came on and executed it superbly”, Farke said on Sky Sports.
“We were getting set-piece after set-piece and Joe Rothwell is our best set-piece taker and Pascal Struijk is our best set-piece goal-scorer.
“It was still a difficult decision because I wasn’t sure about bringing a centre-back into the game who will have to defend counters after he was out injured for such a long time.
“I was very nervous because I had to take AO Tanaka off too and he was obviously booked with a yellow card and he was brilliant in the game.”
Farke’s gamble paid off against Sunderland
Leeds were not at their best at Elland Road on Monday night and a very good Sunderland side did put them under real pressure and pushed them all the way.
Farke had to change things up and it’s a credit to Sunderland that they forced the Leeds manager to change tactics and focus on scoring from set-pieces.
However, the German showed that his Leeds side have more to them than just being a very eye-catching team and could mix them up when needed.
Can you name the Leeds game these 10 goal celebrations are from?
Struijk and Rothwell were a punt given it changed the way Leeds played their football but the Leeds boss’ gamble paid off at Elland Road on Monday night.
Farke wanted his side to become more dangerous from set-pieces and it is credit to the Leeds boss that he realised what his team needed to win the game.
Leeds will play better and score more goals in other games but the way his side found a way to win on Monday night would please the German a lot more than he would like to admit.
