EFL expert accuses Leeds United star of ‘going missing’ ahead of vital Middlesbrough clash

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Leeds United face Middlesbrough in tonight’s vital clash at The Riverside as third play fifth in the Championship.

The Whites have seen their attack suffer for some time now, with Dan James contributing to two goals in the last six games, Brenden Aaronson one in that same period, and Manor Solomon and Joel Piroe have none in that time.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	BurnleyBurnley	40	23	15	2	55	12	43	84
2	Sheff UtdSheffield Utd	40	26	7	7	56	30	26	83
3	LeedsLeeds	40	23	13	4	79	28	51	82
4	SunderlandSunderland	40	21	12	7	57	37	20	75
5	MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough	40	17	9	14	61	49	12	60

It means Leeds have dropped outside of the top two behind Burnley and Sheffield United after a dismal weekend in the Championship for Daniel Farke’s side. The Whites have won one in six in that time and Farke’s team risk falling apart again in the run-in.

There is still plenty to be decided in the second tier, and both Piroe and James are in the Golden Boot race, but we are at serious risk of a ‘boring’ event regarding the top scorer award this season ahead of the final six Championship games.

• READ MORE: EFL Championship’s all-time top scorers as journeyman sneaks into top ten and Sheffield United legend tops the charts

Ali Maxwell critical of Leeds United’s Joel Piroe

EFL experts Ali Maxwell and George Elek of the Not The Top 20 podcast have had their say on the topic of goalscorers, with Maxwell particularly unimpressed with one Leeds forward this season.

He said: “Let’s be honest about this, it’s been an absolutely honking Championship golden boot race. One of the worst that I can remember up to this point. But six games left, so could it still have a good ending? That’s what we’re looking at today.

“For Leeds, Dan James has the strongest numbers. Piroe has a lot of goals but, frankly, I’m not even sure he’s played particularly well for most of the campaign. It’s an odd season on that front, isn’t it? It’s not a season with loads of absolute killers, basically.

“Borja Sainz leads the way; surely there to be chased down with six games to go. He’s got Piroe two behind him. Now, I must admit that I’m a bit of a Joel Piroe skeptic — in a Leeds shirt at least. Clearly, a fabulous player for Swansea and, in the main, played a role that got the best out of him.

“And for a team where his talents elevated their attack, I don’t think Piroe’s game really elevates Leeds’ attack, I must say. He is and can be a good finisher. He has scored 15 goals this season; I don’t think those are particularly impressive numbers in the team that he plays for.

“And that’s just goalscoring. Outside of that, I don’t particularly like what he brings to the table, I must admit.”

He added: “What I find interesting about Piroe is — I had the sense that he is what you might call a bit of a flat track bully. Of Piroe’s 15 goals, 12 of them have come when Leeds are already winning this season.

“So, to me, while a goal that makes it 2-0 is still important to secure a win, it’s not the most important goal in that game to gain that win.

“60% of his goals — so nine of 15 — have come against the current bottom six. That’s the sort of thing that gets people branded as flat track bullies.

“He hasn’t scored in his last six games. This is a time when Leeds need individual players to step up. Across the board, some of them are not at the moment — I think Piroe is one of them.

“Now, I say that to say that he might win the golden boot. He’s closest to Sainz, six games to go, and it wouldn’t be a surprise for him to get two or three and draw level and get in front of Sainz.

“But he is goalless in six; and I think, somewhat going missing.”

• READ MORE: Leeds United, Sunderland and West Brom fans all in agreement as Championship experts make Josh Sargent claim

Who will win the Championship Golden Boot in 2024/25

Leeds require their star men to fire at the business end of a season, which includes Piroe. He still has the opportunity to fire them to promotion and win personal accolades in the process, given how tight the race is.

Each player listed below is among the best players in the Championship, but Sargent has to be the favourite from this point, given the rate at which he is firing in the goals for Norwich City.

There are a clutch of players on 12 goals and each of them could catch fire and break into the top bracket. With so much on the line at this stage of the season, you wouldn’t back anyone against stepping up to be the main man and win games single-handedly.

Speaking of match-winners and differentials, both Daniel Farke and Michael Carrick will have plenty on show tonight at The Riverside as pundits have predicted a high-scoring affair. They could be the difference and Farke has been urged to play one Premier League level star.

Leeds fans will hope for more changes to freshen their attack up against Boro, including Largie Ramazani after disappointing quotes from Daniel Farke.