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August 23, 2024
Daniel James’s goal effectively ended this exciting Yorkshire derby. Daniel Farke and his Leeds teammates’ exuberant response said it all. In fact, nothing is decided or settled by mid-August.
Back-to-back draws to start the new Championship season have added to the melancholy surrounding the eliminated playoff finalists from the previous season, but such are the standards at this football club. In addition, Farke’s team has lost valuable players since the Southampton defeat.
With well over £100 million in sales, Crysencio Summerville, Archie Gray, Glen Kamara, and Georginio Rutter have all left. Still, there hasn’t been much movement in the other direction. But on Friday, the players Farke left behind turned in their best performance of the year to defeat Sheffield Wednesday and give Leeds some much-needed optimism.
Sheffield Wednesday lost their second game in three after Leeds secured five points from nine thanks to goals from Brenden Aaronson and James. Farke will, however, be adamant that the Leeds management should not be persuaded that their squad is adequate by this outcome or the performance.
“It’s not ideal because we’re looking at a 46-game season and another cup competition to come,” he said. “You won’t expect you will only have one or two players unavailable throughout the season – and we definitely need to add a few numbers.”
As Farke stated, he will need to bring in more players if Leeds is to compete in the Championship season and survive the long haul. However, it is ironic that among all the players who have left in recent weeks, the one who was instrumental in getting a move away a year ago is now at Hillsborough.
When Wilfried Gnonto pushed for a transfer to Everton last summer, it appeared his days at Leeds were over. However, he was a key component of everything Farke’s team accomplished well, including the excellent buildup play that resulted in Aaronson’s opening goal. “That’s exactly how I want him to play because at times today he was unplayable,” Farke said.
The visitors were under pressure in the opening quarter, facing a passionate home crowd at Hillsborough. However, Sheffield Wednesday struggled to create chances as the first half progressed, allowing Leeds to find their footing and quiet the home support.
The turning point came after 25 minutes when Leeds executed a brilliant counterattack, culminating in a goal by Aaronson, who is experiencing a redemption arc this season. His return from a loan spell at Union Berlin was met with a lukewarm reception, but two goals in three games have begun to change that perception.
Wednesday will view this match as a missed opportunity. The result could have been different had they capitalized on an early chance. Instead, after Aaronson’s goal, they lost their rhythm while Leeds asserted their dominance. This defeat marks their second consecutive league loss following an impressive opening weekend victory over Plymouth.
“We saw a good Leeds side,” the Wednesday manager, Danny Röhl, said. “Sometimes you have to suffer and stay together as a team. That’s what we have to take from this. The second goal was too easy.”
The moment Röhl referenced proved crucial. Three minutes into the second half, Mateo Joseph delivered a precise through ball to James, who expertly lobbed it over James Beadle, doubling Leeds’s lead and putting the hosts firmly on the defensive.
Instead of a potential Sheffield Wednesday fightback, it was Leeds who relentlessly pursued a third goal. Joseph missed a golden opportunity after a dazzling run by Jayden Bogle. At the same time, Gnonto also came close to extending the lead.
Aside from a speculative effort from Wednesday captain Barry Bannan that narrowly missed Illan Meslier’s post, the Owls struggled to create real threats to stage a dramatic comeback. The momentum from their previous thrashing of Plymouth seems to be fading. However, they still hope for a successful season under the highly regarded Röhl.
This evening, however, belonged to Leeds. After a tumultuous summer at Elland Road, Farke will hope this match marks the turning point for their season, which had begun sluggishly both on and off the pitch.
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Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and football sportsbook app reviews. As an author for Football News Today, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for football, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.
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