Leeds United 2 Plymouth Argyle 1 – Imperfect Win. Another formidable first half but again conceding in the second half. Plymouth Argyle come and left Leeds without a win away this season. With Struijk injured with a double hernia and Liam Cooper made a rare start.
Farke wanted to create the legendary fortress Elland – something Leeds have lacked in the past two seasons. After Leeds had beaten both Leicester City FC and Ipswich FC they are looking like the form team – it is a matter of building the momentum. There is strength all over the team: Joe Rodon is the rock in defence and Leeds rarely lose with him playing. Kamara, man of the match against Leicester City, is proving formidable with Ampadu in the middle; Rutter is a revelation in creating opportunities, with Summerville and Piroe taking them.
Leeds were firmly in control in the first half. They were patient in passing from the back until they could switch up a gear. Gray and Byram were busy on the wings. At one point both of them on the right hand side terrorising the Plymouth defence.
James and Summerville used their pace to get behind the Plymouth defence, Piroe and Georginio picking up the crosses but too much of the one touch football was intercepted by the five man Plymouth defence. On the rare occasion Plymouth made some dangerous forays into the Leeds penalty box Rodon and Cooper both made important blocks
Dan James was first on the score sheet. Georginio caused havoc in the penalty box with a penalty shout but pressure from Kamara forced the Plymouth defender to scuff his cross only as far as James who carefully placesd the ball into the corner of the net.
Summerville was lucky not to score with plenty chances and an offside goal. However he did assist with the second goal with a dance in to the penalty box and a little dink to Piroe who played the coolest of touches into the goal. Leeds are cruising.
Georginio, busy getting fouled, has a shot on goal himself when he found himself picking up a loose ball but its weak. The first half finished with a dodgy challenge by Ampadu in the penalty box but the referee was happy that he had touched the ball.
Advantage Plymouth
After a busy start to the second half with Plymouth registering a rare shot on target and Piroe at the other end forcing a save, Leeds lost their focus until Summerville, clear on goal, somehow missed, and relieved he was given off side for that.
The loose cannon Firpo made his first appearance of the season as the injury-prone Byram was substituted. Georginio was in the thick of the action all over the pitch and unlucky to score. Every time Hougton fouled him, Houghten ended up injuring himself.
The dynamic was changed in the last five minutes as Leeds failed to capitalise on their lead, with Plymouth scoring from a rare opportunity, and against the run of the play. Leeds endd the match with Rodon seeing off Plymouth. Leeds went into the international break with another win. Another formidable first half but again conceding in the second half.
Man of the match: Rodon who was a rock in defence.
