- Leeds continued their imperious form at Elland Road with a narrow victory
- Dan James starred as Farke’s men went two points clear at top of league
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Daniel Farke can play it down all he likes, but his Leeds side further showed on Tuesday night that they are the team to topple in the Championship.
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder caused a stir at the weekend when he claimed Farke’s men were ‘miles ahead’ of his own promotion hopefuls.
But while Farke rubbished his rival manager’s remark, his team went on to prove Wilder right on Tuesday night by beating Middlesbrough to return to the top of the table at the expense of the Blades.
Late goals from Daniel James and Brenden Aaronson earned Leeds an eighth straight home win after Max Wober’s own goal had cancelled out Wilfried Gnonto’s early opener.
And Farke’s men are now two points clear of Wilder’s United, who have a game in hand at Millwall on Wednesday, and three ahead of third-placed Burnley, who were surprisingly held at home against Derby.
Increasingly, the Whites look poised for a Premier League return after two seasons away, while Boro’s own promotion hopes took a hit as they dropped one place to sixth.
Daniel Farke’s Leeds showed they are the best the Championship has to offer on Tuesday
Dan James stole the show with an impressive display and goal in his side’s 3-1 victory
The win means Leeds go top of the Championship table in their hunt for promotion this season
Despite Leeds’ formidable form at Elland Road in the Championship this season, home fans will have been nervous when they arrived given their previous result here against Middlesbrough.
Back in August, Boro swept aside the Whites – who had that evening been rocked by the news Georginio Rutter was leaving for Brighton – 3-0 in the Carabao Cup.
Carrick’s men have continued to enjoy their travels this season and came here having not lost on the road since the start of October, form that had helped push them into the play-off places.
As for Carrick himself, he has been enhancing his reputation in a division where ex-England internationals have enjoyed mixed fortunes in the dugout so far this season, with Scott Parker, Tom Cleverley, Wayne Rooney and now Frank Lampard all in head coach roles in the second tier.
‘Michael Carrick, he’s won more than you,’ the visiting fans taunted their home counterparts about their beloved boss and former Manchester United midfielder.
Carrick, though, will have known this would be his team’s toughest test to date. And so it proved, with the travelling Teesside faithful soon silenced.
First, James – making his 100th appearance for Leeds – gave an early warning when he raced forwards and dragged a shot just wide.
Then in the 14th minute, Sam Byram sent James tearing down the right wing and his cross was diverted by Boro centre back George Edmundson – under pressure from Mateo Joseph – towards his goalkeeper Seny Dieng.
Michael Carrick’s side stay sixth but their promotion hopes were dealt a blow at Elland Road
Wilfied Gnonto opened the scoring with one of the easiest goals he will score in his career
Brenden Aaronson, meanwhile, wrapped up the points with his strike late into stoppage time
While Dieng blocked his defender’s intervention, the grounded Boro No 1’s attempted clearance ricocheted in off the on-rushing Gnonto, who wheeled away in delight at one of the luckiest goals he will ever score.
Still, it was the Italian’s fourth of the season and the perfect response to surprisingly being left out of the team last Saturday against Derby. And Gnonto looked in the mood for more, as he continued to run the Boro backline ragged on the left, much like his fellow wideman James was doing on the opposite flank.
Much of Boro’s hopes rested on Emmanuel Latthe Lath, who bagged a brace in both Championship meetings against Leeds last season.
Yet the Ivorian striker – who was back in the starting line-up for top scorer Tommy Conway – barely saw sight of the ball in the first 45 minutes.
In fact, the closest Boro came to scoring was when home defender Pascal Struijk passed just wide of his own net.
That brought groans from a crowd who always fear the worst and a similar sound greeted Aaronson when he scooped a bouncing ball over the bar at the other end.
Gnonto, though, could do little wrong and he brought fans to their feet when he drew a diving stop out of Dieng with a long range strike on the stroke of half time.
At 1-0, however, an air of apprehension swirled around this old ground and Boro came out all guns blazing after the break.
With his team’s first meaningful attempt on goal, Riley McGree won a corner when he stung the palms of Illan Meslier with a fierce left-footed drive. And from Daniel Barlaser’s inswinging setpiece in the 54th minute, Leeds defender Wober flicked into his own net ahead of Neto Borges at the near post.
It was a bitter blow for the Austrian, who had just earned some credit back with supporters with his goal against Derby having annoyed them last season by jumping ship on loan to Borussia Monchengladbach.
Ben Doak had a chance to give the visitors a shock lead, only for his shot to be smothered by Meslier.
And he was made to pay 16 minutes from time as Leeds sub Joel Prioe played in James, who made up for a miss moments earlier by lashing into the top left corner to send the home fans wild.
Aaronson then added gloss to the scoreline in the second minute of stoppage time when he stroked into an empty net from Ao Tanaka’s ball, as an animated Farke punched the air on the touchline.