Leeds United impressed as they beat Derby County in the FA Cup this weekend. Many were cautious about the game after what happened in the EFL Cup at the early part of the season.
Farke rotated the team and was embarassed by Sheffield Wednesday, who were one of the worst teams in the Championship. This time around, it was a comfortable victory for Leeeds away from home.
A rotated side including the likes of Jack Harrison, Sebastiaan Bornauw and Ilia Gruev cruised to a win over Derby County. They were in for a scare early in the game when the home side took the lead.
Jermaine Beckford praises what £16m ace did against Derby
In the second half, goals from James Justin, Ao Tanaka and Wilfried Gnonto were enough to seal a victory. Gnonto’s goal was well worked, as acknowledged by former Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford. Beckford praised Joel Piroe for his role in the goal – the striker’s awareness to spot the run of Gnonto behind him allowed him to make the goal happen with a lovely dummy.
“Again, it’s the awareness of Joel Piroe, he knows Gnonto’s behind him, he knows that he’s got two defenders closing him down, just lets the ball run through his legs, absolutely brilliant.”
Sunday was the first goal the striker had scored this season, after being the first choice option up top in the previous campaign.
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Joel Piroe has been unlucky at Leeds United this season
Joel Piroe was the main striker at the club last season, and even finished as the top scorer in the Championship. But since the summer, many had pointed out that his quality would not translate to the Premier League. And in the first few games of the season, it was clear that Daniel Farke had made his decision; the German preferred Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha.
It was a few months into the season that the Leeds boss answered the question as to why the striker was limited to cameos this season. Farke explained that tactically, the Whites were not in a league where they would dominate matches for large parts of the game where Piroe’s finishing would be key.
Playing Calvert-Lewin and Nmecha was to fit in with the more proactive style, since Leeds would be defending and have to play with a focal point to move up the pitch. Ultimately, Joel Piroe may need to find a new club this month if he wants to play regularly for the rest of the season.
