'Maturity' in Leeds United's 'professional demolition' of Derby County in FA Cup
Leeds United overcome a stuttering start to book their place in the next round of the FA Cup by seeing off Derby County at Pride Park
Here’s what our YEP Jury of Leeds United fans had to say about the FA Cup win over Derby.
DAVID WATKINS
Making eight changes and playing three players out of their normal positions was bound to mean Leeds would take a while to find their range, and, for 20 minutes, it looked like we never would!
It was a scrappy first half for Leeds, but the longer it went on, the more dominant we became.
There was more than a touch of déjà vu about the first half, with a fierce Joel Piroe shot grazing a post and his penalty then being saved, raising the spectre of many previous third round cup exits.
When Derby then capitalised on some sloppy Leeds defending to grab the lead, it all felt very familiar.
But Leeds clicked into gear in the second half, and the venom with which Willy Gnonto struck the equaliser set the tone for a professional demolition of Derby’s hopes.
Four minutes after Willy’s thunderbolt, Joel Piroe took another pot-shot, and when Zetterstrom saved, Ao Tanaka nipped in to tuck the spilt ball into the Derby net.
Inevitably, the nerves jangled towards the end until Leeds bagged a third – a quick break by Lukas Nmecha, sliding the ball into the path of James Justin, who’d run the length of the pitch to finish neatly.
Man of the match: Willy Gnonto.
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KEITH INGHAM
Leeds, with a much-changed team, bounced back from their first defeat in eight games with a come-from-behind win at Pride Park.
It was a poor first half from Leeds to be honest, but it was interesting and it became a battle between Joel Piroe and the Derby keeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom who saved the Leeds number 10’s penalty and a post also denied last season’s top scorer.
Only a couple of minutes after the penalty miss Derby got the opener, the left winger Corey Blackett-Taylor stumbled in the area and as Leeds players stood still, the ball broke to Ben Brereton Díaz, who beat Karl Darlow.
Leeds must have had a bit of a rollicking at half-time because they came out with purpose with Willy Gnonto involved constantly.
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The winger finished off a lovely move to finally beat Zetterstrom with a superb shot. Leeds made it 2-1 soon after – Piroe’s effort was superbly saved but Ao Tanaka was first to react. James Justin then scored his first goal for Leeds in injury time to finish the job.
A strange game, if it wasn’t for their keeper it could have been over by the break but less than impressive defending gave the hosts hope. Daniel Farke will be glad to give the players a day or so off to recover after a pretty tough week.
Man of the match: Willy Gnonto.
MIKE GILL
Daniel Farke fielded a strong side with an unusual line-up at Derby County which contributed to a shaky start but justice was eventually done.
Joel Piroe was determined to prove a point but the footballing gods were not on his side.
First of all, he hit the post and then had his penalty saved by Derby’s man of the match, goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterström.
In fairness, it wasn’t the worst penalty miss we have ever witnessed.
Against the run of play, perennial Championship favourite Ben Brereton Diaz gave the Rams the lead with a first-time effort.
Ten minutes after the restart Willy Gnonto put the Whites level with a rasping drive from the right.
Ao Tanaka made it two when the unlucky Piroe had his shot parried away by Zetterstrom.
It was no more than the Whites deserved and they maintained control before the hard-working Lukas Nmecha sent James Justin away for his first goal for Leeds.
This United side are beginning to show strength in depth as well as maturity.
It’s good to be in the fourth round draw for a change and to not have to say that we’re ‘concentrating on the league’. Job done.
Man of the match: Joel Piroe.
ANDY RHODES
In having a week off from the pressures of the Premier League, Leeds United looked refreshed and comfortable in this Cup tie at Derby County.
Of course, the first half could have gone smoother, but the second half was a show of quality from the Whites.
It was a shame to see Joel Piroe miss his penalty. Piroe is a striker who really needs a goal.
In the second half, Leeds turned on the style and made the pressure count.
Daniel Farke will be glad that his side could let loose and get themselves into the hat for the next round.
It was good to see Willy Gnonto score and also see James Justin find the net after hitting the bar at Newcastle United last week.
There were a lot of positives to take from the game and Leeds will need to take them forward as a tricky clash with Fulham awaits on Saturday afternoon at Elland Road.
Coming back with a league win after an eye-catching unbeaten run would be very positive.
Man of the match: Willy Gnonto.
NEIL GREWER
As expected, Daniel Farke rotated his squad and made eight changes to the starting XI.
In the first half, Leeds looked disjointed and a far cry from recent Premier League performance levels.
However, they were still the better team and had Joel Piroe not missed a penalty, would probably have led at the break rather than being a goal behind, as shortly after Piroe’s miss, Derby took the lead – helped by sloppy defending.
In the second half, Leeds looked more like a team. Defensively they were not tested and Ao Tanaka became more influential in midfield.
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A controlled performance saw Willy Gnonto finish a good passing move emphatically followed by Ao Tanaka tapping in a saved Joel Piroe attempt.
In injury time, a breakaway by Lukas Nmecha allowed James Justin the chance to score his first goal for Leeds – calmly converting past an outrushing keeper.
Decent performances from Nmecha, Gnonto and Justin did their first-team selection chances no harm whilst Jaka Bijol and Ethan Ampadu were as solid as normal.
The same cannot be said of Jack Harrison whose crossing was below par.
Man of the match: Willy Gnonto/Lukas Nmecha.