Curtis Davies, the former West Brom captain and central defender, may not have been jealous of Kyle Bartley and his teammates as they faced Leeds United’s powerful frontline at Elland Road.
Leeds United leads the Championship with 72 league goals, surpassing all other teams.
For context, before kicking off against Queens Park Rangers later on Saturday afternoon, the team sitting second in the table – Sheffield United – had found the net just 48 times.
And even when the likes of Dan James, Manor Solomon and Joel Piroe are drifting wide and dropping deep, opposition defences dare not yet their focus drift even for a second. Switch off and here comes Brenden Aaronson or Ao Tanaka driving into the box.
Failing that, always check your shoulders for an onrushing Jayden Bogle or Junior Firpo.
Remarkably, eight of Leeds’ starters against West Brom had scored at some point in the previous five Championship games. And it was the head of Junior Firpo which put Daniel Farke’s team in front against The Baggies with just nine minutes on the clock.
Dan James shines again as Leeds United draw with West Brom
Firpo converted a Dan James assist to put Leeds level at Sheffield United on Monday. Five days later, they combined again.
The Spanish press raved about a ‘world-class’ Junior Firpo in midweek. That is seven goal contributions in his last six Championship outings now.
As for his two-time provider, the aforementioned Davies feels that an increasingly ‘clinical’ Dan James deserves immense credit for taking an even greater role in the final third following the summer departures of Georginio Rutter and reigning Championship Player of the Year Crysencio Summerville.
It was from that left-hand side, cutting in, where Summerville did so much damage last season. The same spot in which James located Firpo with pinpoint accuracy.
“After losing Summerville and Rutter, you start to worry,” says Davies, who captained West Brom before moving to Midland rivals Aston Villa in 2007. “But Dan James was part of that last year [as well]. This year, he’s stepped up a notch.
On an afternoon where West Brom’s rock-solid backline left Leeds United frustrated, Davies was understandably proud to see The Baggies’ current defence keep such a free-scoring attack relatively quiet.
He also has some sympathy for Jayden Bogle.
Curtis Davies defends Jayden Bogle following Darnell Furlong equaliser
The right-back was caught between a rock and a hard place as West Brom cancelled out Firpo’s early opener. Or, more specifically, he was caught between Torbjorn Heggem and Darnell Furlong at the back post.
Bogle chose to latch himself onto Heggem, thus leaving Furlong free to loop his header – Ao Tanaka at Bramall Lane-style – over Illan Mesler.
“Bogle never really looks around to see Furlong but he’s more looking at Heggem,” explains Davies. “I think its just a fantastic header that the keeper has no chance with. Unfortunately for [Bogle], he’s just caught with two players.
“I thought West Brom were good value today.”
Former Bolton Wanderers boss Ian Evatt and ex-EFL stalwart Jobi McAnuff joined Davies on the Sky Sports sofas. Both were left fawning at the creation and execution of Firpo’s delightful header, the full-back charging into the six yard box with James delivering from out wide.
“They are very good in the way they rotate, especially in the wide areas,” Evatt says, Piroe and Aaronson also in there waiting to pounce. “The amount of numbers they get on the last line. It’s a great ball in and a great finish.
“‘They have got that freedom to go [into the penalty area] when they get into those areas,” agrees McAnuff, formerly of Crystal Palace, West Ham and Cardiff among many others.
“Firpo making that inside run, Solomon pops into the pocket and good quality coming into the box. They weren’t quite at their best but they’ve still got that quality in the forward areas and wide areas to hurt any team.”
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