Leeds boss Daniel Farke hails "old man" for wonder goal in win over Luton

Sam Byram's superb scissor-kick onslaught was the item of 3-0 triumph implicit Luton that sends United backmost apical of the Championship.

Daniel Farke hailed “old man” Sam Byram’s wonderment extremity arsenic Leeds stormed backmost to the apical of the Championship.

The inferior player, backmost successful his 2nd spell astatine Elland Road, scored a superb scissor-kick opener arsenic United swept past Luton. It was the 31 year-old’s archetypal extremity of the play and it prompted beaming celebrations from team-mates and coaching unit alike.

A smiling Farke said: “Even successful grooming helium celebrates his goals with a pistolero oregon thing similar this due to the fact that he’s not that good known for scoring goals. But he’s unsafe retired of set-pieces and this extremity was a spot special.

"A left/right question and, usually for this magic, it’s players similar Largie [Ramazani] oregon Willy [Gnonto]. So I similar that the aged antheral has shown this today. It was a important goal.

"At 1-0, it’s ever the astir important. And I’m blessed arsenic he’s great. He’s truthful reliable. Whenever we request him he’s there. Sometimes erstwhile he’s not playing, he’s ne'er complaining. He’s ever determination for the team. He’s a cornerstone of our group.”

Joel Piroe and Dan James besides netted arsenic ascendant United eased location connected the nighttime they saluted legendary Gary Speed. It’s been 13 years since the Leeds icon - who wore the No.11 garment with specified grace and favoritism - tragically died aged conscionable 42. Clearly, helium volition ne'er beryllium forgotten here.

Fittingly, Byram’s classy onslaught came conscionable moments earlier the Elland Road assemblage roseate arsenic 1 to wage tribute to the erstwhile Wales ace successful the 11th minute. Farke lone made 1 alteration to the broadside that doubly came from down to triumph 4-3 successful Sunday’s chaotic contention astatine Swansea.

James enjoyed 3 assists successful that game, including an injury-time assistance for Willy Gnonto aft a last-minute Swansea equaliser. But helium was dropped to the seat with Gnonto coming into the starting line-up. In fairness, Italy winger Gnonto was 1 of Leeds’ liveliest players on with the fantabulous Ao Tanaka.

But, with Piroe scoring their 2nd successful archetypal fractional injury-time, James made definite of yet different triumph successful the 81st minute. Not agelong aft replacing Gnonto, helium latched onto Jayden Bogle’s superb done shot to coolly lob Thomas Kaminski.

The West Yorkshire broadside dominated the archetypal half, amassing a immense 78.5 percent of possession and, astatine times, toying with their 16th-placed opponents. But arsenic United fans know, they ne'er marque it casual for themselves. After Byram's infinitesimal of magic, Luton arguably had the 2 clearest chances of the opening 45 minutes.

Captain Pascal Struijk was needed to marque a spectacular goalline clearance to contradict Victor Moses an 18th infinitesimal equalizer. And Reece Burke wasted a gilt-edged opportunity, heading wide erstwhile near escaped from Carlton Morris’ transverse successful the 42nd minute. United made the astir of that let-off with Piroe doubling their pb conscionable earlier the break.

Joe Rothwell swung successful a corner, Struijk’s header forced a Kaminski prevention but Piroe was connected manus to occurrence successful the rebound for his seventh of the campaign. Leeds were relieved fixed Brenden Aaronson had already bombed 1 chance, trying to find Gnonto alternatively than shooting himself. Gnonto had besides gone adjacent successful 1 of countless United raids.

Leeds had already threatened plentifulness earlier Byram gave them a tenth infinitesimal lead. It came from immoderate classy build-up play into the punishment country earlier the midfielder’s arsenic classy volley near Kaminski beaten. Luton, who person plummeted since past season’s relegation from the Premier League, arrived successful decent nick.

Saturday’s triumph implicit Hull was a 2nd triumph successful 3 games. But Rob Edwards’ broadside ne'er genuinely looked similar scoring successful the 2nd play until a mates of precocious chances. And James’ superb decorativeness reminded them however acold disconnected they inactive remain.

Edwards conceded: "The frustrations for america are we made immoderate mediocre decisions. We couldn’t find our balance. Ultimately, this is astir apt the astir hard spot to travel successful the Championship astatine the infinitesimal - and it looked similar that tonight.

“We don’t spot this [lack of confidence] astatine location but we bash away. Clearly it’s a large clearance the archetypal 1 and past Burkey’s accidental was a large one. It’s each ifs, buts and maybes.”