Leeds United will look to add to their season tally this weekend when they travel to Blackburn Rovers for a lunchtime match.
Leeds United will hope to close the gap on Ipswich Town to four points if they win at Middlesbrough on Saturday.
The Whites’ confidence will be high following their 3with2 success over Ipswich’s next opponents, Leeds, who survived a scare at Elland Road to overcome Michael Carrick’s Boro – the Whites nearly slipping up in the game after racing into a solid 3-1 lead.
According to Sofascore, Leeds’ young prodigy Archie Gray stood out at the back for Farke’s promotion-chasing squad, winning seven of his 11 duels in the battle to shore up his worried defense.
Where Gray shone, Leeds’ usually dependable center-back and captain Pascal Strujik faltered.
The Dutch defender was repeatedly bailed out by his more alert defensive teammates to ensure Boro did not steal a share of the points, putting the 24-year-old’s established status in the first team at Elland Road in jeopardy.
Struijk was far slower than normal, winning only two of his six duels on the night.
In stark contrast, when Leeds shocked the odds by winning 1-0 away at Leicester City in early November, the 6 foot 3 defender won 80% of his duels against tougher opponents.
After the Boro game, Leeds Live journalist Beren Cross gave Struijk a subpar 5/10 rating in his player rating article, characterizing his individual performance as ‘hardly rock solid’, especially in a wobbly second half.
The Antwerp-born monster also gave away possession 12 times in the game, failing to play the role of a calm defender when his team needed him to be just that.
Farke may try to bring back an experienced alternative ahead of his failing Dutchman for the encounter against the Riversiders, with Liam Cooper deserving of an opportunity in the first-team ahead of the unconvincing number 21.
Season statistics for Liam Cooper
The Scottish defender has been a devoted Elland Road servant for nearly a decade, signing from Chesterfield in 2014 and going on to make 275 appearances for the West Yorkshire giants.
His abilities have waned in recent seasons as he nears the end of his career, and he has seen his minutes curtailed this season, with Farke opting to start Struijk over the 32-year-old.
Cooper has been a reliable presence for Leeds United this season, earning him the nickname “Mr Reliable” from former player and current pundit Michael Bridges. With a weekly wage of £25,000, as reported by Capology, Cooper is considered a capable replacement for Struijk at Ewood Park and a dependable option against Jon Dahl Tomasson’s team.
In the recent away match against Rotherham United, Cooper showcased his effectiveness, winning eight duels and exhibiting composure on the ball. His passing accuracy was notable, completing 108 passes during the game at the New York Stadium.
Considering Cooper’s experience and strong performance against Rotherham, Farke may choose to start him to convey to Struijk that a spot in the starting eleven is not guaranteed, encouraging all players to elevate their performance levels for promotion or potential lineup changes.
