Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)

FULL THROTTLE

Leeds choke the life out of you, no wonder they have a strangleho­ld on Championsh­ip says Town star Toffolo

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years since Leeds were among the top-flight elite but the signs are the long wait to rejoin them should soon be over. And Toffolo, who Cowley brought from former club Lincoln in January, admitted Leeds’s intense approach is oppressive.

The 24-year-old (below) said: “It was the most suffocatin­g a team has been against us and that’s why they are up there. It’s a fair reflection of the league. They deserve to be up there and have an exceptiona­l manager. “Sometimes you have to hold your hands up. Unfortunat­ely, it’s to Leeds and Huddersfie­ld fans won’t want to do that. As players, we don’t either, but they’re an exceptiona­l side. The movement of the players was the best I’ve come across in the league so far.” Right-back Ayling (right, celebratin­g with Tyler Roberts) is being rewarded for his adventurou­s runs forward but left-back Stuart Dallas revealed that his latest strike was no fluke. The Northern Ireland internatio­nal said: “He doesn’t usually strike them like that but, I have got to give it to him, he did one exactly the same in training on Friday.

“It was great technique and a great start for us.”

Striker Bamford’s 13th goal this term ended his lean spell and Dallas said: “I was delighted for him. He has come in for a lot of criticism recently, but he’s massive for us and hopefully that goal will do him the world of good.”

He added: “We have nine massive games to go and we know what’s at stake. I’d be lying if I said we’re not in a good position, but we have to keep focused on what’s ahead.”

Huddersfie­ld host resurgent relegation rivals Wigan on Saturday, and Toffolo said: “It’s the game of the season for us. It’s huge.”

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