LEEDS, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 16: Detail view of the Leeds United club badge on the corner flag prior to the Premier League match between Leeds United and Newcastle United at Elland Road on December 16, 2020 in Leeds, England.The match will be played without fans, behind closed doors as a Covid-19 precaution. (Photo by Rui Vieira - Pool/Getty Images)
Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has reversed the old “Dirty Leeds” stereotype in his short time at Elland Road, with his team now ranking second-last in the Championship booking table.
Birmingham World [28 March] ranked each Championship club by the number of yellow and red cards they have received this season, and Leeds’ total of 56 yellows and two reds has them in 23rd.
The only team below them were Bristol City, who have picked up 57 yellow cards and not a single straight red this season, with Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday at the top with 84 yellows and five reds.
Daniel Farke changing the Leeds United narrative
While it’s difficult to use cards as a metric for performance, the lack of an accumulation of yellows or red cards collected at Elland Road means more of Leeds’ key players have been available more often, allowing Farke to field stronger teams.
That has then been reflected in the performances of his team, with the likes of Georginio Rutter and Crysencio Summerville able to start the majority of games, as the two stars of the show have picked up 21 goals and 23 assists combined in 35 and 37 appearances respectively.
Their performances have been a huge factor in Leeds’ form this season, particularly since the turn of the year, with Farke’s side currently sitting in first place on goal difference, although Leicester have a game in hand, and will be looking to secure an automatic promotion place.
