Leeds United took a massive step towards Championship promotion last night, securing a convincing 4-0 win over Watford at Vicarage Road.
Goals from Dan James, Joel Piroe and Manor Solomon secured all three points for Daniel Farke’s side, moving them back five points clear of Sheffield United in second.
Whilst there are still 14 games to go between now and the end of the campaign, the win certainly puts the Whites in pole position for a return to England’s top flight, needing to maintain their superb form from the last few outings.
The four-goal haul further cements the club’s spot as the highest scorers in the division, a part of their armoury which is undoubtedly a key asset to their recent success in the Championship.
Numerous players impressed once again for the Whites during the victory, playing a huge part in yet another pivotal result if they are to right the wrongs of last season’s play-off final defeat.
Leeds’ star performers against Watford
Winger Solomon starred once again within the final third for Leeds last night, with the hierarchy desperately needing to pursue a permanent move for his signature in the summer.
The Israeli international scored his seventh goal of the season, whilst also registering his seventh assist of the campaign – contributing to two of the four goals scored by the Whites.
He was the only attacker to impress, with Welsh winger James scoring twice in the first half to help the side maintain an early advantage in the capital.
The 27-year-old has now found the back of the net on 10 separate occasions, currently sitting as the club’s second top scorer – in what is the second-best goalscoring season of his career.
However, the aforementioned pair weren’t the only two attackers to impress against the Hornets, with one other player demonstrating why the boss has made the right call in standing by his selection.
The Leeds player who shone alongside Dan James
It’s safe to say throughout this campaign Farke has often had a selection headache over whom to start with at the top end of the pitch to push them closer to a top-flight return.
Mateo Joseph and Patrick Bamford are just two of the options at his disposal, but the pair have often failed to provide the goods, given their combined tally of just three league goals in 2024/25.
However, over the past couple of weeks, Piroe has returned to being the main centre-forward option, backing up the German’s decision to operate with him in the final third.
The Dutchman netted once more in the win last night, taking his tally to 14 in the league to date, the highest of any player in the side, showcasing his importance to the Whites.
He’s certainly had his doubters at various points of his Leeds career, but his all-round play along with his goal last night is evidence as to why he’s become undroppable in the last few weeks.
Piroe may have only registered 28 touches at Vicarage Road, but every one of them were meaningful – completing 100% of the 16 passes that he attempted against Tom Cleverley’s men.
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Joel Piroe’s stats for Leeds against Watford |
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|---|---|
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Statistics |
Tally |
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Minutes played |
81 |
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Touches |
28 |
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Passes completed |
16/16 (100%) |
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Shots taken |
6 |
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Shots on target |
3 |
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Goals scored |
1 |
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Assists |
1 |
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Stats via SofaScore |
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The 25-year-old registered six shots during the win, with three of which on target, looking like a constant threat within the final third and playing a huge role in their triumph.
He also completed two key passes in the process, setting up James for his second effort of the night, providing that all-round threat as a focal point that the club desperately searched for in the January window.
As a result of his impressive showing, the striker was handed a 9/10 match rating by Leeds Live journalist Isaac Johnson, further highlighting how impressive he was once more for Farke’s men.
After such a showing, it’s fair to say that Piroe now has to be the club’s leading talisman between now and the end of the campaign, potentially providing the difference between promotion and another year in the Championship.
