Good Morning. It's Thursday 13th March, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Leeds roar back to the top of the Championship
Leeds United roared back to the top of the Championship in style last night with a performance so dominant, you’d think the Lions had mistaken Elland Road for the Serengeti! Farke’s squad came out firing on all cylinders, pressing harder than Rupert Murdoch at a news conference, leaving Alex Neil’s side dazed, confused and fresh out of ideas.
The Whites were gifted an early lead in the third minute. A dangerous cut-back from Manor Solomon was unfortunately deflected by Millwall defender Jake Cooper, sending the ball past his own goalkeeper Lukas Jensen and into the net. The own goal set the tone for a dominant Leeds performance, as they controlled possession and kept the visitors penned in their on half for much of the game.
Brenden Aaronson then forced a save from Jensen and Ao Tanaka fired a long-range effort narrowly wide. Joel Piroe thought he had doubled the advantage with a powerful strike, but celebrations were cut short by the offside flag, ruling out Aaronson’s preceding assist. Millwall, despite going behind, remained resilient and almost snatched an equalizer before halftime when Cooper, seeking redemption for his earlier misfortune, headed a free header wide of the target.
The second half saw Leeds continue to probe, seeking to extend their lead and secure the three points. Solomon came agonisingly close to adding a second, unleashing a thunderous shot that rattled the crossbar. Millwall, while diligently defending, struggled to mount a sustained threat on the Leeds goal. Their best effort came in the form of a heavily deflected cross that tested Illan Meslier, but ultimately posed little danger.
The crucial second goal finally arrived in the 85th minute, putting the result beyond doubt. Tanaka capped off an impressive individual performance with a well-taken first-time finish from the edge of the box, marking only Leeds' second shot on target in the game. The goal sparked jubilant scenes at Elland Road, confirming Leeds' return to the top of the Championship table.
This victory not only re-establishes Leeds’ two-point lead over Sheffield United but also extends their cushion to four points over third-placed Burnley in the fiercely contested battle for automatic promotion. Having avenged their previous two defeats to Millwall this season, Leeds demonstrated their resilience and determination to stay on course for a coveted Premier League return, making it 16 Championship games unbeaten at fortress Elland Road.
Farke incensed after Piroe goal chalked off
Daniel Farke was left incensed after Joel Piroe's goal was chalked off in their hard-fought 2-0 victory over Millwall last night. While the Whites ultimately secured the three points and returned to the top of the Championship table, the disallowed goal cast a shadow over the win and ignited Farke’s fury.
JP thought he had broken his three game duck with a moment of brilliance. After a slick one-two with Brenden Aaronson, the Dutchman expertly navigated the Millwall defence and slotted home, his relief and elation evident in his celebration. However, his joy was abruptly cut short by the sight of the linesman’s flag, signaling offside.
Farke was apoplectic on the touchline. His anger wasn’t simply about the single decision; it was compounded by the hauntingly familiar feeling of injustice. As he later revealed, this was the same linesman who had previously denied Willy Gnonto a late equalizer against Coventry City under similarly contentious circumstances just a month prior.
I think the offside goal in the first-half was never, never offside! Farke exclaimed, his voice thick with frustration. And you know what? The same linesman, incredulous. Recalling the Coventry incident, Farke continued, [He gave us an] apology after the game. ‘Won’t happen again’. Next game we play, same again.
Farke stressed the gravity of such decisions, especially within the tight confines of a Championship clash. “It kills me a little bit because a goal is so important against a side like Millwall. Anything can happen [when the scoreline is still 1-0].” He felt the disallowed goal could have significantly altered the game’s dynamic, potentially making Leeds’ path to victory smoother.
Despite dominating possession and peppering the Millwall goal with 18 shots compared to their opponent’s four, Leeds were ultimately reliant on an own goal and a late Ao Tanaka thunderbolt to seal the win. The disallowed Piroe goal added an unnecessary layer of tension and frustration to a game they otherwise controlled.
Hull keen to make Joffy move permanent
Joe Gelhardt is starting to show Elland Road what they're missing. The 22-year-old striker, on loan at Hull City since January, bagged his third goal of the season last night, helping the Tigers secure a 2-1 comeback victory against Oxford United at the MKM Stadium. Since arriving at Hull, "Joffy" has been a consistent presence, starting all but one game and earning a solid 6.90 average rating, placing him second within Ruben Selles' squad. This is a far cry from his time at Leeds, where he was seemingly frozen out and opportunities were scarce.
Many believe Gelhardt should have been loaned out much sooner, and his current form is vindication. Hull City fans are already vocal about wanting to make his move permanent in the summer. With just over two years left on his Leeds contract, a summer transfer seems likely. It begs the question: have Leeds United made a mistake letting Gelhardt stagnate on the bench? His resurgence at Hull suggests a player with untapped potential. Only time will tell if letting him go will backfire on the Elland Road hierarchy.
