Leeds United kept the pressure on at the top of the Championship with a 2-1 win over Watford.
Daniel Farke’s side scored twice inside seven minutes through Largie Ramazani and Brenden Aaronson and held off pressure from the visitors to secure a second successive win.
A blistering start to the match and a creative first half-display showed continued improvement by Leeds when going forward, with their quality enough to see off Tom Cleverley’s side. Just.
The Athletic picks out the key talking points…
These are the wins that get you promoted
A win is a win and this is exactly the type of game that a team with promotion ambitions needs to battle through on occasion.
Largie Ramazani put Leeds ahead with a stroke of luck after Watford goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann fumbled his long-range strike and dropped it over the line. Bachmann then gifted United their second after palming Willy Gnonto’s cross directly into the path of Brenden Aaronson for a cool finish. But the contrast in performance in the two halves was evident.
Leeds created plenty across the first half and could have scored more but were unable to add to their lead before dropping off in the second period. Taking inspiration from Leeds, Watford started quickly when Kwadwo Baah got in behind Pascal Struijk and fired home.
Watford continued to apply pressure, particularly from set pieces as they crowded Illan Meslier, but Leeds held firm.
United had their chances — a couple fluffed on a below par night for Joel Piroe and a header sent directly at Bachmann by Mateo Joseph.
A yellow card for Junior Firpo means he will miss the trip to Bristol City on Saturday through suspension which will force Farke to change his back line for the first time in the Championship this season.
In a physical test Leeds managed to grind through the moments of pressure and eight minutes of added time to secure the points. It was not a win to live long in the memory but it is exactly the type of win to set a team on course for promotion.
Rothwell and Tanaka crucial again
After receiving the plaudits and a man-of-the-match award apiece in Friday night’s 2-0 win over Sheffield United, Joe Rothwell and Ao Tanaka continued to improve their flourishing partnership at the base of midfield.
Adapting to the physicality of the defensive midfield role has been the big ask for two more offensive central midfielders but after working through the pre-international break challenges against Norwich City and Sunderland, they are thriving.
Tanaka’s ability to shrug off defenders and bring the ball out of tight spaces in the defensive third was crucial as Watford built pressure, as were his well-timed challenges to halt counter attacks. Rothwell’s fluidity on the ball compliments Tanaka’s traits and the pair have made a case to challenge Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev to start when all are fit.
Ampadu and Gruev’s return is a way off yet with both players sidelined for the foreseeable future with knee injuries but Tanaka and Rothwell offer greater attacking intent in the meantime. Tanaka’s efforts have not gone unnoticed by his team-mates.
“He (Tanaka) was outstanding,” Farke said. “I’m not sure whether to say this because I might get a fine from the EFL but the lads are joking and calling him Tiger Tanaka who was a Bond villain.
“After this game I’ve labelled him James Bond. He saved the world today, it was an outstanding performance and he had calmness on the ball. Although he had to carry on with a yellow card, in the crucial and decisive duels he was outstanding. He definitely was not the villain!”
Ramazani shines again but injury is a worry
He was only on the pitch for 14 minutes but Ramazani left his mark when he opened the scoring. He was involved as Leeds piled on the pressure and got the second but then was left worse for wear in a challenge with Festy Ebosele. Despite trying to continue, Ramazani had to come off in place of Manor Solomon — reflective of the depth of talent Farke now has on the bench.
Since filling in for Solomon when the Israel international was ruled out with a hamstring and back injury in September, Ramazani has been a bright spark on the left wing. Goals against Cardiff City, Norwich and Watford as well as an assist against Coventry City reflect how easily the 23-year-old has taken to life in the Championship.
Farke had his concerns about Ramazani’s ability to handle the physicality of the division but until the challenge with Ebosele, he has navigated the step from La Liga to English football well.
Signed as a replacement for Crysencio Summerville and seen as a player of similar profile to the £25million man, Ramazani looks capable of reaching similar heights in a Leeds shirt. The next league match against Bristol City could come too soon for him with Farke confirming the winger suffered an ankle injury that would need further investigation. The hope for Leeds is that it is nothing more serious.
What next for Leeds?
Farke’s side travel to Bristol City on Saturday in a 12.30pm kick off at Ashton Gate.
(Top photo: Tanaka and Farke after the win over Watford. Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
