Leeds 3 Birmingham 0 | Leeds...Leeds...Leeds!!!
Leeds United 3 Birmingham City 0
It was a shock to see third choice goalkeeper, Klaeson, playing; Darlow had a dislocated thumb and Mes was still suspended. An even bigger surprise was Bamford making his first start of the season with Piroe dropped to the bench. All season long the argument has raged amongst the fans and the media that Rutter should play as a no.10 and Piroe as a no.9 and not the other way round, as Daniel Farke has chosen to play them. I was very non-plussed to see Bamford in the team and wondered if it was a way of Farke saving face…to switch Rutter and Piroe around would have been a massive u-turn for him after being so stubborn on the issue, sticking to his guns all season long so far.
Birmingham were having a terrible time of it under new manager, Wayne Rooney, and the pressure was growing for his sacking after only a few weeks in charge, much to the pleasure of the many Man U haters in the ground today. This was a game Leeds badly needed to win after back-to-back defeats over Xmas, the pressure building from the teams below them in the playoffs probably now the greater concern with auto promotion looking a long-shot, Leeds now in 4th place and 9 points behind Ipswich in second.
“ I was very non-plussed to see Bamford in the team and wondered if it was a way of Farke saving face…to switch Rutter and Piroe around would have been a massive u-turn.”
Having to be content with the Radio Leeds commentary the first 20 minutes passed without much incident, with Bamford not really getting into the game and both sides seemingly struggling to get a foothold. I was at the mercy of Popey to relay the information to let me know what was happening but he was more interested in having a good old chinwag with ADHD White, the former Leeds left back. When Sam Byram went off injured, with his troublesome hamstring in the 18th minute, I would have opted for Adi to slot in at left-back rather than see Farke’s Furke Firpo, but how wrong I was. When Bamford rose brilliantly, like a leaping salmon, to head in the opening goal after 35 minutes, I was eating my words and then in first half injury time I was choking on a large piece of humble pie when Firpo produced a great cross for Dan James to score yet another goal, his 8th of the season. Leeds had sprung into life in the twinkling of an eye and it must have been a very happy and relieved Daniel Farke that welcomed his boys into the dressing room for the halftime break.
Another 36,000 plus crowd were in a very happy and relaxed mood as they taunted Rooney during the second half…I am not sure who they want sacking first, Rooney or Ten Hag; they both seem ready to walk the plank now. Leeds moved up a gear in the second half and Bamford was denied a second goal when his shot from the edge of the box hit the upright and when Firpo became provider of the third goal, from Summerville this time, it was game, set and match. Rutter had been a huge success playing as a 10 and with the game in the bag Farke was able to bring on Piroe to replace Bamford who was given a standing ovation as he left the pitch on 75 minutes.
Elland Road thoroughly enjoyed this game as Leeds became rampant and went for the jugular; Firpo’s header hitting the inside of the post and Leeds a whisker away from adding a 4th with other near misses too. This was an excellent response from Leeds but by all accounts Birmingham were the worst team Leeds had come up against so far this season. It is a good start to 2024 and Ipswich and Southampton above us in the league have both drawn so it is a happy new year after all.
By David Dean