Daniel Farke must have felt relieved to secure a victory as the final whistle blew on Saturday, with Leeds United defeating QPR 2-0 at Elland Road. However, Farke would likely acknowledge that the performance was far from flawless.
In response to Junior Firpo’s suspension, Sam Byram was brought back into the starting lineup for his third Championship match this season. Manor Solomon and Mateo Joseph also earned starts in place of Dan James and Joel Piroe, though they struggled to make a significant impact.
The breakthrough for Leeds came when Jayden Bogle fired a left-footed shot into the top corner after a goal-mouth scramble, following Brenden Aaronson’s effort hitting the bar. Piroe later came off the bench to score his sixth goal of the season, with four of those goals coming as a substitute – a record in the club’s history.
Despite the win and a clean sheet, it was not an exceptional performance by Leeds, particularly with Aaronson’s struggles. Aaronson, who is known for trying to make things happen on the field, lost 14 out of his 19 duels with QPR players during the match.
Even with solid statistics such as creating three chances, completing 24 successful passes out of 30, and hitting the bar with one of his shots, Aaronson’s lack of physicality continues to be a concern. Additionally, his high rate of dispossession and unsuccessful touches indicate a vulnerability that opponents may exploit.
The recurring issue of Aaronson’s struggles in duels and retaining possession is becoming a noticeable weakness for Leeds, one that opposing teams may exploit. Farke may need to consider making changes to address this vulnerability, potentially bringing in a new no.10 player in the January transfer window.
