HAMMER TIME FOR POTTERS
Ref: Keith Stroud Att: 35,626
MATEUSZ KLICH reckons Leeds are heading for the Premier League – if they keep repeating the demolition job they did on Middlesbrough.
The Championship is already shaping up to be a three-horse race between United, West Brom and Fulham. But, having missed out to Sheffield United and Norwich last season, Klich believes Leeds have what it takes to go one step further this time.
“Fulham are playing very good football and have Mitrovic scoring 15 goals,” he said. “In my opinion, West Brom are the best team in the league but, if we play like this and score goals like this, we will be OK.
“I don’t really care about my own performances as long as we are winning. Last season, I scored 10 goals, got nine assists, and had the best season of my life, but we didn’t go up. So, I would change it for just two goals and two assists, but playing in the Premier League.
“We need to score more goals, that’s the only thing from last season that we have to do. We are playing better than almost every team and have more points than we did at this stage last season. We have nine clean sheets, so everything is good.”
Leeds were ahead after just three minutes when Patrick Bamford headed home Pablo Hernandez’s cross, before Klich scored his first on the stroke of half-time, his shot taking a deflection off a Middlesbrough defender to wrongfoot keeper Aynsley Pears.
Helder Costa put the game beyond doubt midway through the second half, before the goal of the game from Klich, who curled home from just outside the area.
The crushing defeat meant it was an unhappy homecoming for two former Leeds favourites, Jonny Howson and manager Jonathan Woodgate.
It’s now just one win in 12 and Boro sit a point above the drop zone, but Howson insists the team are good enough to get themselves clear of danger.
“I’ve been in this situation with Leeds and Norwich, where I was relegated,” said Howson.
“It’s not a nice feeling, but I firmly believe this squad we’ve got will have enough.
“It’s part and parcel not just of football, but life, that you will have to go through tough times.
“Tough people will survive it and I believe we’ve got tough people in the dressing room and on the staff.”
MOTM
PATRICK BAMFORD (LEEDS)
Evans 80og
Dack 13, Gallagher 84
STOKE are going to get hammered in training this week from new manager Michael O’Neill.
His message will be simple, ‘Don’t think you’re too good to go down’.
The Potters remain in the bottom three after this defeat and there will be no quick fix for their problems.
O’Neill began with wins over Barnsley and Wigan, but successive defeats to Cardiff and now Rovers have shown the Northern Ireland manager does not have a magic wand.
“The message has been pretty clear,” said O’Neill.
“The players realise the gravity of the situation and certainly between now and Saturday it will be hammered home.
“As every week or game goes by, you think you can address it then. It doesn’t work like that. You run out
Williams 61 of games. I’ve been in relegated teams and I know how that works.”
Goals from Bradley Dack and Sam Gallagher (above) sandwiched an own goal from Northern Ireland’s Corry Evans as Blackburn made it three wins in a row.
Dack has scored four times in those three games and has 10 for the season as he marked his 300th career appearance in style.
And Rovers boss Tony Mowbray is just thankful his phone isn’t ringing off the hook yet for his star player.
The midfielder, 25, has 18 months left on his contract but there is no sign of him signing a new one as bigger clubs ponder a move for him in January.
“I totally believe Bradley can be a star in the Premier League,” said Mowbray.
“We are probably running out of time here on how long we’ll be able to hold on to him.
“I had James Maddison when I was at Coventry and he has become an England player. The same goes for Bradley, no question.”
Casilla 6, Ayling 7, White 7, Cooper 7, Phillips 8 (Berardi 83), Costa 8 (Alioski 76, 5), Dallas 7, Klich 9, Hernandez 8, Harrison 7, Bamford 9 (Nketiah 79, 5)
Pears 7, Howson 5, Ayala 5, McNair 5, Fry 5, Bola 5, Saville 6, Wing 6 (Liddle 70, 6), Tavernier 6, Fletcher 5 (Walkerm 90), Assombalonga 5 (O’Neil 77, 5)