Sky Sports pundit delighted by Junior Firpo quality vs Southampton as Leeds United misfit looks reborn under Javi Gracia
Junior Firpo proved to be a key attacking outlet for Leeds United in the first half vs Southampton including one “lovely” ball in that impressed Michael Bridges.
The left-back has often been a lightning rod for criticism in his time at Elland Road following his arrival from Barcelona two summers ago, but in Javi Gracia’s first game in charge there were signs that he might take advantage of a fresh start as he combined numerous times down the left with Willy Gnonto and put in a number of inviting crosses.
Just inside the opening 20 minutes of the crucial relegation six-pointer the full-back arrived on the overlap and was found by Gnonto, before whipping in an excellent cross that came through to Luke Ayling arriving from the other flank who blasted over, and Sky Sports pundit Bridges praised his influence.
Speaking live on the world feed match commentary on Saturday (25 February, 3.20pm) Bridges said: “Again, Gnonto driving inside with the ball, Firpo on the overlap with Maitland-Niles just that yard too short to get the tackle in. A lovely delivery in.
“Patrick Bamford will be disappointed, as will Luke Ayling, that they didn’t get try to get something on target there.
“A huge warning sign and you can see Javi Gracia there, he appreciated it.”
New beginnings
The pressure couldn’t have been much greater for this one, both in terms of the first signals for the Gracia reign and the overall prospects for this club’s future prospects.
That showed in the way that neither side could take any of the chances that came to them in the first 45-minutes, but Leeds United were certainly on top.
Firpo and Gnonto combined so many times that it seems like that is the avenue to find the break through for the Whites.
Firpo has got back into the team thanks to an injury for Pascal Struijk and on early evidence under the new manager he might be taking his opportunity.
Issues with the defence plagued Jesse Marsch’s reign, with left-back a particular problem, and centre-back Struijk looked to have made the spot his own when the club saw fit to come into the season with just Firpo as a specialist.
He wasn’t put under a great deal of pressure defensively against Southampton, but going forward he looked far better than he often has in a United shirt, so if the new manager can unlock the quality he was expected to have when he arrived from Camp Nou it would be a big boost for the rest of the season.
Either way, the home side need to make the dominance pay in the second half to record a vital three points.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites are positioning themselves to make a major attacking signing for free at the end of the season.
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