Aidy White has suggested that he saw one Leeds United player really shine for potentially the first time this season as the Whites booked their play-off final ticket at the expense of Norwich City.
Leeds could have hardly wished for a better second-leg performance, particularly after the drab first game at Carrow Road at the weekend.
Leeds blew Norwich away during the first-half on Thursday, with Ilia Gruev, Joel Piroe and Georginio Rutter all scoring before the break against David Wagner’s side.
Leeds’ attack certainly looked like a different animal after faltering in the final stages of the automatic-promotion race, and perhaps the most pleasant surprise was the performance of Piroe.
Joel Piroe outstanding as Leeds reach play-off final
The Dutchman returned to the starting lineup, and led the line ahead of Georginio. Piroe headed home the home side’s second goal, and produced a number of superb touches which created opportunities for his teammates.
And speaking on BBC Radio Leeds (broadcast on 16/5; 21:57), Aidy White suggested that he had rarely seen the striker play better.
“I thought Joel Piroe led the line really, really well, especially in that first-half. He looked tremendous, probably the first time I’ve seen him really shine this season,” he said.
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Piroe definitely needed a performance like that ahead of Leeds’ trip to Wembley. Piroe has come in for criticism, particularly in the second-half of the season. And Whites fans would have felt a real sense of disappointment when it emerged that Patrick Bamford would miss the second-leg.
But Piroe reminded everyone why Leeds signed him last summer, making him the marquee addition ahead of their return to the Championship.
White will not be the only one who felt that Piroe produced one of his best performances of the season against the Canaries.
And if he repeats that display at Wembley, Leeds have a fantastic chance of getting across the line.
