Lovin’ Summer
LEEDS’ SURGE CONTINUES
DAN JAMES cracked in another crucial goal for Leeds United as his purple patch goes from strength to strength.
The 26-year-old Welsh International has now notched up seven strikes this season, with three of those coming in the last three games for on-song United.
Not to be outdone, young Dutch maestro, Crysencio Summerville got in on the act for Leeds’ second strike, to hit his ninth of the season and his third in the last four matches.
Victory took Leeds’ run to six wins in their last seven outings – but gaffer Daniel Farke was just as delighted to have notched up a clean sheet.
Farke, who has two Championship promotions with Norwich already under his belt, said: “It’s a good run. We’ve been almost second to none recently, but we have to keep things in perspective.
“It’s most important to deliver a clean sheet. That gives great confidence, especially for my defensive players.” Blackburn boss Jon Dahl Tomasson, who was banned from the touchline, said: “Leeds scored two goals in transition. In those breakaways, they were really clinical. I think Leeds will get promoted automatically.
“We were the better side in the second half and got in more dangerous areas than our opponents. But they were so clinical.”
Farke called both goals “icecool finishes.” James’ opener was a belter and came after Georginio Rutter fed him on the right side of the box. The inform wingman hit an angled, on-the-deck right-footer that zipped past Swedish keeper Leo Wahlstedt and into the net.
And Summerville’s goal showed composure and confidence well above his 22 years. The one-time Feyenoord man was played through by Archie Gray and Summerville casually flicked the ball past keeper Wahlstedt with the outside of his right foot to seal the points.
Blackburn had their moments and the Championship’s Player of the Month for November Sammy Szmodics twice threatened to add to his 14 goals.
A quick-fire attack saw him just unable to connect in front of goal, and from an Adam Wharton corner the Blackburn skipper hammered a longranger against the Leeds defensive wall.
Callum Brittain sent a thunderbolt into the sidenetting, and Blackburn had two penalty appeals turned down by referee Bobby Madley. BLACKBURN: Wahlstedt 6; Hill 6 (Ennis (79) 5), Carter 6, S Wharton 6, Pickering 6; Tronstad 6, A Wharton 7 (Garrett (79) 5), Szmodics 7, Moran 6 (Markanday (84) 4), Leonard 5 (Sigurdsson (45) 6), Brittain 6 LEEDS UNITED: Meslier 6; Gray 6, Struijk 6, Rodon 6, Byram 6 (Spence (69) 6), Ampadu 7, Kamara 7; James 8 (Gnonto (69) 6), Piroe 7 (Gruev (89) 4), Summerville 7 (Anthony (84) 4), Rutter 7 (Joseph (89) 4) STAR MAN: Dan James – his latest strike gave Leeds the confidence to bag another victory. REFEREE: Robert Madley 6