Leeds United analysis: Are Daniel Farke’s men capable of achieving promotion from the Championship this season?
Goals from Jayden Bogle and Joel Piroe secured a 2-0 victory for Leeds United against QPR on Saturday as the Whites reside in third place in the league table.
Leeds were third last season after 15 games and now Farke’s side are in the same position, but just one point better off.
As we all know, the 2023/24 Championship campaign for Leeds ended in a disappointing play-off final defeat against Southampton.
But will it be the same this year after a similar start? Sports News Blitz writer Harry Whitfield evaluates Leeds’ chances this season.
Home form versus away form
Leeds currently top the home form table in the Championship, but sit in seventh for away form so far this year.
The opening three games at Elland Road involved a 3-3 draw with Portsmouth, a 2-0 Yorkshire derby victory over Hull City and a 1-0 loss to Burnley.
However, since then Leeds have won five straight league games at home, including another 2-0 Yorkshire derby win, this time over their title rivals Sheffield United.
On their travels, Farke’s men fared well to begin with as they collected two wins in their first three games, but they are now winless in their last four away matches.
In just seven away games, the Whites have already drawn four games, costing them a total of eight points, which could be crucial come the end of the season.
The most disappointing game was their most recent defeat at The Den, where a Japhet Tanganga goal was the difference for Millwall.
It was arguably Leeds’ worst performance so far, as they lacked creativity and did not threaten the Lions’ net for the entirety of 90 minutes.
It was the same story for Farke last year, going unbeaten at home but suffering three losses in their first seven away games.
It’s a problem that needs addressing because it looks like Leeds are incapable of getting the vital wins away from their fortress that are needed if automatic promotion is the goal.
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Goals, goals, goals
Leeds have scored 24 goals so far this season with a quarter of them coming from Joel Piroe. Remarkably all of them have been scored when he came on as a substitute, a club record in a calendar year.
The next best goalscorer is Brenden Aaronson, with four, and Largie Ramazani rounding off the top three with three goals.
The Whites are certainly spreading the goals amongst the squad, with nine different goalscorers so far this league campaign.
It certainly looks like Piroe could match or improve on his 14 goals last season, but it appears none of the wingers have made a good start to replicating Crysencio Summerville’s 20 goals.
Daniel James and Wilfried Gnonto are on two goals a piece, with Manor Solomon yet to score for the club.
Ramazani has made the best start but is currently injured, leaving Aaronson to be Farke’s best option for goals from midfield.
As well as lacking goals from midfield, Farke only has one forward scoring goals.
Mateo Joseph started his first league game in six and has only scored twice so far after being given a number of starts earlier on in the season.
Patrick Bamford is having injury problems once again and is yet to score, leaving Leeds limitless with effective options up front.
The simple answer would be to sign a consistent goalscorer in January, but will the 49ers and Farke want to bring in a much-needed number nine? Can they even afford one?
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Play-off heartbreak looms once again
Once again Leeds find themselves chasing the top two, Sunderland and Sheffield United, like they did the season before chasing Leicester City and Ipswich Town, but this time the gap isn’t as big.
The Blades were victorious over their local rivals Sheffield Wednesday in the Steel City derby, and they look the real deal.
The Black Cats have had an amazing start, and despite three draws in their last three games, they are unbeaten in eight.
Wilson Isidor, Romaine Mundle, Chris Rigg - the options are impressive for Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris.
A three-way fight for the league title is building up but will Leeds be able to come out on top?
Confidence is not high with the Elland Road supporters -but they crave a forward who can score goals week in week out, like Summerville.
They expect to be able to score more than three goals against weaker opposition, which they did five times last season, but haven’t managed so far.
It’s a similar start, similar problems with the side not being clinical and ruthless enough - all signs pointing towards a similar ending for Leeds with more play-off misery.
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