KILLER INSTINCT OF SZMODICS THE DIFFERENCE, SAYS FARKE
Whites in slip-up as Rovers deal blow
SAMMIE Szmodics consigned Leeds to their first home defeat since May – and blew a huge hole in Whites’ promotion aspirations.
Leicester’s shock 1-0 reverse at Plymouth on Friday meant victory would have sent Daniel Farke’s side top of the table.
But after Szmodics’s 24th goal of the campaign completed a remarkable smash and grab at Elland Road, Leeds’ destiny is now out of their hands.
“It’s not a time to feel sorry for ourselves,” said Farke, whose side failed to score, despite racking up 19 shots, 12 corners and 75 per cent possession.
“We’re a pretty young side and it is only natural that they will feel the pressure a bit more than an old warrior. It’s an emotional club with a great history, and that makes the shirt pretty heavy.
“But we don’t complain about it. We just have to work on the solutions, and that means being more effective and more clinical.
“We had so many corners and so many wide-area free-kicks and so many balls that went through the box. But if you aren’t clinical then there is always the danger that the opponent will get an opportunity.
“That is especially true when you face a player like Szmodics. He is having an amazing season and someone like that only needs one situation to score. That is the lesson for us today.”
Farke’s pain was Blackburn’s gain. Few could have envisaged this result after Wednesday’s 5-0 mauling at Bristol City, but a dogged and disciplined display hauled Rovers to 49 points and within touching distance of safety.
The scoreline – and performance – was a vindication of the
pragmatic approach adopted by manager John Eustace, whose arrival in February saw a distinct shift away from the gung-ho tendencies of predecessor Jon Dahl Tomasson.
Dull draws and narrow defeats initially did little to help Blackburn’s cause, but those foundations were the cornerstone of a victory that owed much to defensive rigour.
A back five protected by Joe Rankin-Costello and Sondre Tronstad stifled Leeds’ vast arsenal of attacking threats, and while goalkeeper Aynsley Pears was kept busy, the majority of his saves were from range. They wasted time. Fouled constantly.
Riled the crowd. But it worked. Leeds huffed and puffed and attacked in numbers. Balls flashed across goal. Shots cannoned off shins. Never, though, did they fashion a genuine, golden chance.
By the end, Farke had flooded the pitch with forwards and Leeds were taking ever-greater risks, leaving gaps that were eventually exploited.
Sam Gallagher flicked on a Pears goal kick and, as a ragged back four got drawn to the ball, Tyrhys Dolan picked out Szmodics in an ocean of space.
The Championship’s leading scorer – who had earlier drawn a fine save from Illan Meslier and forced Connor Roberts into a brilliant goal-line clearance – was never going to miss. He didn’t need a touch, whipping a composed first-time finish beyond Meslier to silence Elland Road.
“Sammie’s a fantastic player,” said Eustace. “Since I’ve been here, he’s been magnificent, and without his goals this season we would have been in trouble.
“As you saw, he’s very calm in front of goal, but his work-rate off the ball is outstanding and that’s why he gets results.
“He’s filled in different positions, he’s run his socks off and when you do those things you usually get what you deserve. But the whole team deserves credit today.
“We came here on the back of a 5-0 defeat and everybody wrote us off. But we had a gameplan and we stuck to it and in the end we got our rewards.”