Dan Carter

Sun 3 December 2023 11:10, UK

Leeds United extended their unbeaten run in the Championship to six matches with an impressive 3-2 win over Middlesbrough on Saturday 2 December.

Daniel Farke’s side fell behind after only three minutes when Emmanuel Latte Lath beat Illan Meslier at his near post, but the away side’s celebrations were short-lived as within five minutes of the opener, Daniel James and Crysencio Summerville had given the Whites the lead.

Joel Piroe’s first-half penalty ensured that Latte Lath’s second-half strike was nothing more than a consolation for the away side, with the win keeping Leeds third in the championship and seven points behind Ipswich Town in second.

Here’s what MOT Leeds News learned from the win.

Struijk must be dropped

After an incredible start to the season, Pascal Struijk will be wishing that he could forget about the last week after the Dutchman put in disappointing performances against both Swansea City and Middlesbrough having returned from injury.

Unlike the clash with the Swans, the 24-year-old didn’t make any mistakes that directly led to goals but was rather weak out of possession, only managing to win two of his seven duels in the clash and even being dribbled past three times [Fotmob].

Struijk may have made a quicker return from injury than was initially expected of him having had an operation on a hernia before the November international break, but he doesn’t look anywhere near his best currently. With Liam Cooper and Charlie Cresswell waiting in the wings, Farke must consider dropping the Dutchman.

Meslier a worry

While attacking talent has repeatedly got Leeds United out of trouble this season, they have looked defensively suspect on occasions and that includes Illan Meslier between the posts at Elland Road.

The Frenchman was criticised for his part in the opening goal as he was beaten at his near post from a narrow angle and on Saturday he did concede two goals from only four shots, with Middlesbrough registering a fairly low xG of 1.24.

Meslier is Farke’s number one, with Karl Darlow rooted to the substitutes bench throughout the campaign so far, but if the 23-year-old continues to leak goals on such a regular basis, the German may have to consider rotating his keepers.

Goals, goals, goals

Leeds supporters have come to expect goals from Summerville and Piroe given their excellent start to the season, but few inside Elland Road would have been anticipating the transformation of James into a goalscoring winger under the management of Farke.

The 26-year-old’s first-half strike against Boro was his sixth of the season in the Championship, with another four assists to his name as he continues to go from strength to strength from the right wing.

His header on Saturday was more akin to that of a 20-goal-a-season centre-forward than a pacey winger but is just further evidence of how he has transformed his game this season. He has already registered his highest-ever goal tally in a campaign and if he continues in this form, he’ll reach double figures at worst.

Summerville and Georginio Rutter may steal the majority of the plaudits, but James has been special this season.

In other Leeds United news, Adam Forshaw reportedly left Elland Road for Norwich this summer because of Farke