Plymouth Argyle 0 Leeds united 2 – being pragmatical. Leeds have now won eight successive matches – the first time since 1931. And another clean sheet. Whilst not an epic performance from Leeds United it was at the run of two games a week with long trips to the South West. Leeds United showed their class to nullify a determined Plymouth Argyle attack. As Farke said after the match this was about Leeds “being pragmatical.”
Plymouth Argyle defended stoutly and, in the second half, pushed Leeds back into their own half, which ultimately Rodon and Ampadu snuffed out. The players didn’t get enough traction for the forwards to have scoring opportunities.
Leeds United came into this match having recently played Plymouth Argyle twice in the FA Cup. After a strong win against Swansea Farke fielded an unchanged line up. Gnonto and Piroe earning their place again.
In the first ten minutes Leeds United blew Plymouth Argyle aside, having most of the possession. The high pressure paid off with a speculative Gnonto goal. In a crowd of players Georginio sent a long lob over to Gnonto on his own in front of goal with only one defender to beat. Gnonto has now five goals in last five games and is playing the best football of his time at Leeds. Leeds are the top team in the championship for scoring in the first fifteen minutes of the match.
Plymouth Argyle fight their way back into the match, sitting deep to defend and then using the width of the pitch to get behind the Leeds defence. The game descends into a scrappy affair with neither side imposing themselves. Unlike Leeds, their passing is poor and the forwards cannot get into the game.
The first ends firstly with a magic moment from Georginio where he wriggles through three players but the deflection hits the post as everyone watched. And then an own goal by Phillips but Gnonto is offside.
The second half started with a hazy rain and Plymouth unlucky not to have equalised as Miller taunted with his crosses in front of Leeds goal, keeping Meslier busy. Plymouth dominated the first twenty minutes but struggled to get a shot on target.
After struggling to keep the ball all match Georginio seals the game for Leeds. Picking up the ball in the middle of the Plymouth half Georginio went route one; navigating through the defence as their players descended on him, he nutmegged the defender catching the the keeper out.
In the dying minutes James was fouled in the box but the referee saw something different and Leeds were denied a penalty. James was unlucky to only hit the post with his free kick.
Not an epic performance from Leeds. The players didn’t get enough traction for the forwards to have scoring opportunities. Rodon and Ampadu stoutly defended but Firpo struggled conceding free kicks and poor passing.
Player of the match: Gnonto who kept searching down that right side.
