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Leeds United attackers need to take their cue from Daniel James and chance their arm

Leeds United played out a 0-0 draw at Burnley on Monday night to maintain their grip on the summit of the Championship table. It was a pragmatic performance in a game of very few chances where the two goalkeepers had little to do. Burnley’s James Trafford still had to produce one save but Illan Meslier remained untouched for the 90 minutes. The Leeds forwards struggled to open up a Burnley defence that has conceded just nine goals all season but nobody could fault Daniel James for not trying. Four of Leeds’ eight attempts came from the Welshman’s feet as he kept trying to prize open the home side’s defence. If more of his teammates had chanced their arms like him, Leeds could have found a way to win all three points.

The Championship season is turning out to be a humdinger with no team at the top running away from the chasing pack at this stage. Leeds had a chance to build a proper lead at the top if they had won at Burnley on Monday night but it ended in a 0-0 draw.

Leeds still have a two-point lead over Sheffield United in second and more importantly, they have a three-point lead over teams outside the top two after 29 games.

Their pragmatic approach got them a point and Daniel Farke’s love for control could end up helping Leeds to secure automatic promotion to the Premier League this season.

However, some do believe Leeds should have gone for a win and Daniel James was one of the players who was trying hard to prize open the brilliant Burnley defence.

While Joel Piroe struggled physically against the Burnley defenders, James was keeping them honest and had as many as four attempts, which was half the shots Leeds had in the game.

The Leeds forwards must learn from Daniel James

James has been the Mr. Consistent for Leeds this season. While Farke has been forced to change players on the left flank, the Welshman has been ever present on the right wing.

His pace is a massive asset for a Leeds side that love playing on transition and his willingness to do the dirty work at the other end allows the Whites to play an attacking right-back such as Jayden Bogle.

However, another key aspect of James’ game is his willingness to take a risk and gets shots away from all angles. In a game where the rest of the Leeds forward line had one attempt, the Welshman had four shots.

He was prepared to have a crack at the Burnley goal to break open the home side’s defence when the rest of his teammates were content with just controlling the ball.

It is a staggering stat that James alone had four attempts when the rest of the Leeds attackers combined to have one shot in the entirety of the game.

The Leeds attackers apart from the Welshman were passive and were content to play around in the final third rather than having a crack at Trafford’s goal.

If some of the other players were as adventurous as the winger, Leeds could have nicked all three points at Turf Moor on Monday night.

Leeds need the Welshman to remain fit for the rest of the season

James has been ever present on the Leeds right wing this season. He has started eleven of their last 12 league games and has been a consistent performer for the team.

Apart from his willingness to chance his arm against the Burnley defence, the Welshman produced another tireless performance where he was up and down for 90 minutes on the right flank.

Leeds have Wilfried Gnonto and Largie Ramazani who can play on the right flank but neither of them can be as consistent as James has been all season.

Farke has rarely rested the Welshman and the winger has been a tireless performer, willing to do all the defensive work while remaining a constant threat with his pace on the wing.

The Leeds boss will need the winger to remain fit for the rest of the season as they attempt to achieve automatic promotion to the Premier League.

The race to finish in the top two will be tight and Leeds will need James to be healthy and firing until the end of the season.

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