Leeds United supporters leaving Elland Road on Saturday were in seventh heaven after what they had just witnessed.

United were ruthless, relentless and unforgiving against Cardiff City, who had been in good form heading into the match. Junior Firpo was the standout performer with three assists during the 90 minutes while Joel Piroe also got a brace.

He also was a creative force and sparked the moves for the first two goals, for which Daniel James got the assists. Brenden Aaronson and Manor Solomon have them both to thank.

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After James had got onto the scoresheet himself, Wilfried Gnonto and Mateo Joseph came off the bench to fire home. This was a proper rout that Daniel Farke can learn a lot from.

A message to the rest

Farke played down talk that today’s win will disrupt the mindset of United’s promotion rivals - but the result will surely send a message. Cardiff had come into this game unbeaten in eight matches, yet were dismantled.

Having been troubled by Solomon and James for most of the match, Cardiff’s defenders will have rued the sight of Largie Ramazani and Gnonto entering the field. Gnonto made sure they did when he scored soon after coming on.

United have so many options who can produce when required that their promotion rivals cannot help but sit up and take notice. A fifth straight clean sheet, with 13 goals scored across those matches - Leeds look like the promotion favourites they are.

Fantastic Firpo

Junior Firpo was handed his first start of 2025, having missed seven matches over the festive period with a foot injury. In an interview in the matchday programme, the full-back put his setback down to his body ‘needing a break’ due to the amount of consistent game time he enjoyed in 2024.

He looks back to peak performance. Firpo put on one of his best displays, keeping Cardiff winger Cian Ashford out of the game, while registering three assists. He often came inside to receive the ball but was also seen storming on the outside too, winning several corners.

Questions will now be raised over who Farke starts against Coventry City in midweek. Sam Byram has played excellently but Firpo is surely undroppable after that.

Piroe on song

Joel Piroe also had an emphatic outing, with his two goals taking his tally for the season to 12. Going into the match, he had scored just once in his past six games, which had fuelled more calls for a new striker to arrive in the final days of the window.

Those concerns still remain but will be less intense with Piroe coming away from Elland Road with huge credit. He seemed to be dropping slightly deeper than usual and was essentially the man who unlocked Cardiff for both first-half goals.

He linked up with his midfielders well and allowed Solomon and James to run beyond the back line with inch-perfect balls. The striker looked a totally different player to the one that played against Burnley. His two goals were well-earned.

Aaronson breaks barren run

Going into the match, Aaronson had failed to score or assist in his previous five matches and had registered just one goal in his last seven. The playmaker had lacked end product during recent matches but took a good step forward on Saturday.

His goal after six minutes ended his barren run and set a marker for the game. He will know that his goal was an opportunity he would have expected to score with James doing the leg work but he was in the right place at the right time.

Farke has said that he has no direct back up for Aaronson who possesses the same ilk. The manager will need him on song, then, for the rest of this season. This match was a step in the right direction.