Leeds United vs. Middlesborough FC : Three Talking Points from the 2–1 win
The Whites finally got back to winning ways with a disciplined and efficient performance.
You often find certain games can define which way a team’s season will ultimately go. And for Leeds United, the game against Middlesbrough could very well be one of those games.
In recent weeks, we have seen teams above us start to build momentum, and we needed a win on Sunday… which we deservedly got.
The club created the visual spectacle, spelling out the word ‘together’ before the game. The word was very timely and apt, as we saw the togetherness in the team that we thought had disappeared weeks ago finally emerge again. The players dominated and controlled the game for the 90 minutes and came away with a much-needed 2–1 victory.
The victory came because of various elements, but here are our three main talking points for the game.
1) Leeds allowed to play their football
I do not want focus too much on Garry Monk here. However, much like at certain points last season with Leeds, his rigid approach was a major factor in his team’s demise.
We have some very skillful and creative players in Christiansen’s team and Middlesbrough sat back, allowing the likes of Hernandez, Alioski and Saiz the freedom to play their game and break down an otherwise solid Middlesbrough defence. It all felt a bit familiar to last season, when we sat back and some teams were able to break through to our dismay.
Roofe was also allowed the freedom to influence the game without being involved with the ball. His movement off the ball dragged the Middlesbrough defenders towards him, giving the likes of Hernandez the time on the ball that he really needs to influence the game.
Previously, I had a negative opinion about Roofe leading the line, but his pace and movement created the space necessary for our creative players, and that is where our main threat lies going forward.
2) Work off the ball
I think what impressed me most was the way we pressed Middlesbrough when they had the ball. This was a main feature of the success earlier in the season, and for some reason this had stopped in the last month.
Championship games can be won on fine margins, and the work rate and pressing of the Leeds players made Monk’s players uneasy and gave us the mental edge that was the base for the victory.
The work of Vieira and Phillips in the middle of the park… you saw both men pushing constantly in unison. I am always impressed when we see both midfielders play together, and the work rate we saw from them both on Sunday was key to the victory.
3) Most important result of the season so far
We might only be in November, but the Championship top half is starting to take shape. The sides chasing promotion are steadily starting to build momentum and solidify their place in and around the promotion places.
The way Leeds have been going over the last few weeks meant a defeat on Sunday would have, in my opinion, left us in the mid-table wilderness for the foreseeable future.
Instead, the victory has meant we stay firmly in the fight, and after a morale-boosting win we now go into three difficult fixtures against Wolves, Barnsley and Villa confident of picking up points.
You could see what that result meant to everybody associated with the club — the fans, the manager, the players and the owner all looked together after the result. I had questioned whether that togetherness was waning, but at full time yesterday, we all saw the belief and understanding throughout the club.
We now have a difficult few weeks ahead, but if the team can show the same commitment they showed yesterday, then they will be ready for anybody. MOT.
Let us know your thoughts on the game on Facebook or Twitter. MOT.
