Farke herald angel
BOSS DAN HITTING RIGHT NOTES AT ELLAND ROAD
DANIEL FARKE’S love affair with Leeds United intensified as Ipswich were handed a Christmas stuffing at a raucous Elland Road.
The German spoke earlier this week about the depth of his feelings towards the Whites following his summer arrival. After this stunning victory – which cut the gap on the second-placed Tractor Boys to seven points – Farke’s popularity continued to soar. Could Leeds catch Kieran Mckenna’s men and win automatic promotion straight back to the Premier League? On this evidence, only a fool would rule it out. When Leeds – backed by one the most passionate home crowds in the country – play like this, they look unstoppable. Certainly Ipswich will not fancy facing them again any time soon. They lost 4-3 to the Whites at Portman Road in August – Farke’s first league win as Leeds boss – and were 3-0 down at halftime here. Farke, who has not lost to the Tractor Boys in six meetings, won promotion with Norwich as Championship title winners twice in the past five seasons. After his Leeds side marched to victory, he said: “It’s not possible to have a perfect performance – but I would say it was probably our most mature performance of the season.
“It was fully deserved. In all periods of the game we were outstanding so I’m pretty happy.”
Leeds led in the eighth minute when defender Pascal Struijk nodded in from close range.
It was 2-0 in the 25th minute when the lively Crysencio Summerville reached the left-hand byline and whipped in a low cross which ex-leeds defender Leif Davis diverted into his own net.
On the stroke of half-time, Davis felled Summerville and the Dutchman dusted himself down before blasting home from the penalty spot.
Piroe smashed a shot against the crossbar early in the second half but soon found the net with a clinical low, right-foot strike. Mckenna’s men had not lost by more than two goals since he took over in December 2021, but he took the pasting on the chin.
The Ulsterman, whose side host leaders Leicester on Boxing Day, said: “Leeds were clinical and took their chances well.”