Leeds United emerged 3-2 victors from a thrilling Championship encounter with Middlesbrough at Elland Road on Saturday afternoon, and Sky Sports pundit Michael Dawson has praised the talents of the Whites’ attacking players following the game.
The players in question – Joel Piroe, Georginio Rutter, Dan James, and Crysencio Summerville – are ‘unplayable’ at the level at which they find themselves in the English second-tier, says Dawson.
Three of the quartet – Piroe, James and Summerville – found themselves on the score sheet in a frantic first half in West Yorkshire on Saturday which saw five goals scored between the two sides.
And whilst Rutter, brought in for a club record fee from Hoffenheim in January, didn’t find the back of the net in Saturday’s contest it was the Frenchman who drew a foul from Boro defender Matt Clarke to win Leeds a penalty kick which Piroe duly converted.
Both Piroe and Summerville now rank as the club’s joint-top scorers with 8 goals apiece, whilst James has 6 and Rutter has 4. Clearly, goals can come from anywhere in the Whites’ forward line, something which has led Dawson to brand them ‘electric’ in their attacking play.
Speaking from the studio on Gillette Soccer Saturday, Dawson said: “The first half was one of the best first halves I have seen all season. It was end-to-end. It was like a basketball game.
“They are free-flowing. You look at Rutter, Piroe, Dan James and Summerville. They are electric. They are unplayable, at times. They create chances like you won’t believe.”
Leeds’ abundance of riches in attack are most strikingly indicated by the fact that young Italian star Wilfried Gnonto, whose quality caught the eye during the Whites’ time in the Premier League last season, has had to settle for a spot on the bench when Daniel Farke chooses his matchday squad.
Saturday’s result made it seven straight home wins for Leeds, who also remain unbeaten at Elland Road so far this term.
Whilst results elsewhere meant that the Whites didn’t gain any ground when it comes to the automatic promotion race, it ensures that Daniel Farke’s side maintain their positive momentum as the push for a spot in the table’s top-two continues.