The scoreline read 2-0 but Leeds United were no less brilliant against Coventry City on Wednesday than when they hammered Cardiff City 7-0 at Elland Road last weekend. It was another demolition job and the home side had to thank Oliver Dovin for avoiding an embarrassing defeat on their turf against a rampaging Leed side. Daniel Farke’s team dismantled a Coventry side who had won their previous four league games and were on the up under new manager Frank Lampard. The Whites are unbeaten in 13 in the Championship and now have a five-point lead over Burnley and Sheffield United at the top of the league table. It appears Farke’s Leeds side have shifted gears to consolidate their position at the summit.
Joel Piroe gave Leeds an early lead in the 17th minute to continue his march towards claiming the Championship’s Golden Boot this season and Jayden Bogle doubled the lead before it was half-an-hour on the clock.
From then on, it was clear that there would only be one winner, and Lampard must thank Coventry goalkeeper Dovin for saving the team from an embarrassing scoreline at home against the Whites.
Leeds looked assured and created several chances to increase the score, but Dovin made some outstanding saves to ensure that the score remained respectable despite the wide gulf between the two sides.
The Whites hammered a Cardiff side who were unbeaten in four before Saturday’s trip to Elland Road and despatched a Coventry side away from home who had won their last four in the league and were closing in on the playoff spots.
Leeds have certainly shifted gears, and their opponents and Championship rivals are finding it hard to cope with them.
A more ruthless Leeds United side are on display
Leeds have been the most consistent side in the Championship this season and as a result, they have had a stranglehold on the summit of the Championship table for a while.
The Whites have been accused of not making the most of the opportunities they create and despite being the top scorers of the league, they have missed more big chances than their closest rivals have created in each game.
They could have scored more at Coventry but over the last few weeks, Leeds are starting to show a ruthless streak in dispatching teams off in the league games.
The win against Cardiff was sealed by two early goals last weekend and they did the same when they travelled to Coventry on Wednesday night.
Leeds are starting games at a pace that their opponents are struggling to deal with and early goals are helping the team to settle down on a rhythm and dominate proceedings without breaking a sweat.
The ruthlessness the Leeds side have displayed is bad news for their promotion rivals who are struggling to keep up with their consistency in performances this season.
Players who were under pressure are coming into their own
Leeds are the top scorers in the Championship this season without having a dominating number 9 who can score the bulk of the goals for the team.
Joel Piroe is the top scorer for Leeds this season but has come under criticism this season for his failure to be a consistent threat up front for the Yorkshire giants.
However, the Dutchman has stepped up to the plate over the last couple of weeks and his early goal against Coventry on Wednesday night set the tone for the rest of the evening.
He has 13 goals this season in the league and is now just two short of Norwich’s Borza who has 15 to his name but has not scored since November.
Illan Meslier has also managed to resurrect his career at Leeds over the last few weeks despite suggestions that he could have been replaced in January.
His mistakes against Hull City last month meant Leeds lost two precious points but since then, the Frenchman has not conceded a goal for the Whites in five league games.
He has 19 clean sheets to his name this season and Daniel Farke’s decision to stick with Meslier despite the clamour for him to get dropped seems to be paying off.
The return to form for Piroe and Meslier has come at the right time for Leeds and they seem to be pressing the accelerator in their pursuit of Premier League promotion.
