Leeds United 7 Cardiff City 0 – Seventh Heaven

Leeds United 7 Cardiff City 0 - Seventh Heaven. In many ways this was a near perfect performance for Leeds. Could we ask for more without being greedy?

Leeds United 7 Cardiff City 0 – Seventh Heaven. In many ways this was a near perfect performance for Leeds. Could we ask for more without being greedy? By the time the final whistle went the players were worn out and the fans began to party – they were in seventh heaven.

This was a Cardiff City team that was on a run of good form so, despite being close to the relegation zone, they perhaps needed to be careful. As it was Cardiff City, with their manager banned from the pitch side, were completely unprepared for Leeds. After a bore draw against top three Burnley FC, when Leeds were criticised as lacking Premier League credibility, Leeds for their reputation and fans, needed to show a response. Farke needed to show leadership.

I don’t know if Farke was scarred from the criticism of the Burnley bore draw last week but it certainly felt like he had the let the team off the leash. This had all the hallmarks of a near perfect performance. Without any new players signed (so far) in the January window there was some nervousness if the team would suffer without a new striker. That particular worry was soon put to bed.

The first target was to score an early goal as Leeds rarely lose from a winning position – well they managed two in the first twelve minutes. The second target was a clean sheet with an XG of 0.05 Cardiff City managed to shots all match – both on target but neither stretched Meslier.

Leeds under Farke usually protect a lead with the occasional late goal. This was 90 minutes of unrelenting fun as Leeds had a ridiculously high 29 shots with 12 on target. What made this match so uncharacteristic was that the team didn’t take the foot off the gas all match. Cardiff played a high line and failed to protect it. Even when Leeds were defending a corner, the moment they won the ball off went Bogle and James on one side, and Firpo and Solomon on the other. Their sheer pace had Cardiff defence running back again and again.

The difference with this compared to others was that when James and Solomon crossed into the box Aaronson, Piroe et al got there just as quick as Cardiff defenders. And this persistent pacy attacking continued into the second half. I remember watching Leeds in the second half just protect their lead. Within five minutes of the second half James had started what became a storm with five more goals.

What was also different about this match was that six players scored. And fans want a new striker. The look on Ramazani’s face at not joining the others on the score sheet was telling – this was a match when many of the players were having a go knowing a deflection by a Cardiff defender or the keeper would lead to a goal chance.

The fun stepped another gear just after then hour when Gnonto – having lost his form recently – was subbed on, and with his first touch of the ball ran into a long way into the Cardiff penalty and nutmegged the defender to score a stunning solo effort. And let’s not forget Joseph – also lacking form, taking advantage of an abject Cardiff performance to score as well. The effort by all the players repeatedly intercepting Cardiff passes helped to keep the fans singing.

Once five minutes extra time was announced fans playfully chanted for a seventh and were rewarded with Piroe scoring from an acute angle. But that was not before fans cheekily started booing when the players passed backwards.

With the final whistle the fans roared out “Leeds are falling apart again.” It was the match of the season (so far) – a scorching display of how Leeds can be at full tilt – passing was fast and accurate, the final ball was precise finding its man, the wingers were getting behind the defence, and shots were on target. It sets a high standard for Leeds to keep repeating and a message to other teams what Leeds are capable of.

Nottingham Forest probably thought they were the team of the day when they beat Brighton HA 7-0 earlier in the day. Well they now had to share the spoils with Leeds.

Man of the match – most of the team are contenders – Firpo was at his best as chief assister, Bogle continues to show improvement taking the ball up the pitch, Solomon and James were largely untouchable but my man of the match as Piroe who can blow hot and cold, but made a huge impression in this match with his interceptions and two goals.

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