Leeds United told key duo are best the Championship has ‘ever seen’ in one crucial area

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Leeds United dropped valuable points away to QPR on Saturday afternoon, allowing the chasing pack to catch up to Daniel Farke’s side.

The picture at the top of the Championship changed yet again this weekend, but this latest international break signifies that we are at the business end of the season, which will be a test of the resolve of numerous teams in the mix during the automatic promotion run-in.

Leeds maintained their place at the summit despite the various issues with Brenden Aaronson that Leeds supporters have and also continued their good run in many ways, which has now stretched to one defeat from the last 20 games in the Championship.

A disappointing draw to QPR may have tightened things up again for Leeds, despite Daniel Farke’s mistakes with his starting line-up, but they know they must avoid the play-offs, given Leeds’ record at Wembley.

• READ MORE: Kalvin Phillips reunion would be a mistake for Leeds United, Daniel Farke must follow Newcastle United blueprint instead

Jayden Bogle and Junior Firpo praise emerges from EFL expert

Given the talent on display at each team in the mix, we can expect more twists and turns from here. For Leeds, though, when their full-back duo are fit and firing together, it seems they have two of the best players in the Championship at their disposal.

Ali Maxwell of the Not The Top 20 Podcast has outlined his thoughts on the current form of the pair. He said: “Leeds didn’t fall apart here [against QPR]. They didn’t wobble. They came back into the game.

“And their full-backs, again, are doing so much going forwards. “Quite apt, really, that they are scoring so much. Because I genuinely think they are the most attacking full-backs I think I’ve ever seen at this level in a back four.

“We’ve seen really attacking wing-backs previously. But with a team playing a back four, I don’t think I’ve ever seen full-backs with as much license to attack.

“And not just attack to stretch the play, add width, and get to the byline; but coming inside [and] attacking the box.

“In Firpo’s case, he is one of the most dangerous penalty box attackers right now, given how dangerous he is from cutbacks and crosses over the last month or so.”

Maxwell added: “Look, they didn’t go on and win it after they made it 2-2. But from a Leeds point of view, I would be interested in the fans’ mentality here.

“Because they are not averse to getting worried when points are dropped and others pick up wins but I would suggest this was quite a strong reaction to a difficult situation — being 2-0 down, having conceded two shots and two goals.

“They stood up to it and they came back and got a point. For me, I’d be taking the positives. I don’t know if that is how anyone else sees it.”

• READ MORE: The highest points tallies in Championship history: Can Leeds United or Sheffield United break the record this season?

Farke deserves credit for evolving Leeds — Firpo and Bogle are central to that in 2024/25

Maxwell is correct to point out a strong area of the pitch for Leeds, with no other Championship full-back pair even coming close to the goal and assist numbers of Firpo and Bogle. However, his colleague George Elek is right to praise Burnley’s form of late, too.

Farke deserves credit for the way he has balanced and adapted the team this season to be less reliant on two individuals in — Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter. The attacking unit can consist of seven players when Leeds are at full throttle.

The full-backs provide width and crash the box, while the wide players invert or go on the outside, leaving two of the three central midfielders to support attacks around the area. That gives Leeds numerous solutions against all different kinds of opposition, which is a real weapon in their attacking arsenal.