The jubilant response from Daniel Farke and his Leeds players to Daniel James’s decisive goal in this thrilling Yorkshire derby spoke volumes. While nothing is settled in mid-August, the victory was a significant boost for a club dealing with the aftereffects of last season’s playoff heartbreak.
Leeds had endured a subdued start to the Championship season, with consecutive draws contributing to a gloomy atmosphere. The summer saw an exodus of key players, including Crysencio Summerville, Archie Gray, Glen Kamara, and Georginio Rutter, raising over £100 million in sales but leaving Farke’s squad significantly depleted. However, on Friday, the remaining players delivered their best performance of the season, securing a much-needed win over Sheffield Wednesday.
Brenden Aaronson and Daniel James found the back of the net, giving Leeds five points from nine and handing Sheffield Wednesday their second defeat in three games. Despite the victory, Farke remains insistent that the club’s hierarchy should not be complacent, acknowledging the need for further reinforcements.
“It’s not ideal because we’re looking at a 46-game season and another cup competition to come,” Farke said. “You won’t expect to have only one or two players unavailable throughout the season – and we definitely need to add a few numbers.”
Farke’s concerns are well-founded, as Leeds faces a grueling Championship season. Ironically, it was Wilfried Gnonto, who had pushed for a transfer to Everton last summer, who played a pivotal role in the win. Gnonto was instrumental in the buildup to Aaronson’s opener, showcasing the talent that Farke wants to see consistently. “That’s exactly how I want him to play because at times today he was unplayable,” Farke commented.
The match began with Sheffield Wednesday on the front foot, buoyed by a passionate home crowd. However, as the first half progressed, Leeds grew into the game, gradually quieting the home support. The breakthrough came after 25 minutes when a swift counterattack culminated in Aaronson’s goal. The American, who faced a frosty reception upon his return from a loan spell at Union Berlin, is slowly winning back the fans with two goals in three games.
Wednesday will view the match as a missed opportunity, especially after their strong start. Once Aaronson scored, they struggled to regain momentum, allowing Leeds to dominate. Danny Röhl, Wednesday’s manager, acknowledged Leeds’ quality, stating, “We saw a good Leeds side. Sometimes you have to suffer and stay together as a team. That’s what we have to take from this. The second goal was too easy.”
That second goal, scored by James just three minutes after the restart, was indeed decisive. Mateo Joseph’s perfectly weighted pass set James free, and he calmly chipped the ball over James Beadle to double Leeds’ lead. From that point on, Leeds looked more likely to extend their advantage than Wednesday did to mount a comeback.
Wednesday’s best chance came from a long-range effort by captain Barry Bannan, which narrowly missed the target. Other than that, they offered little threat, and the momentum from their opening-weekend win over Plymouth is now fading. Despite this setback, they remain hopeful for a successful season under the highly regarded Röhl.
For Leeds, this victory could mark a turning point. After a difficult summer and a shaky start to the season, Farke will hope that this win signals the beginning of better times ahead at Elland Road.
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