Christmas may be over but Leeds United are top of the Championship tree thanks to a Boxing Day triumph at Stoke City, courtesy of a Joel Piroe brace.

The 25-year-old stretched his tally for the season to nine goals with efforts on 42 and 63 minutes, having gone five games without scoring before kick-off. Daniel James was on top form for the visitors and grabbed a deserved assist for Piroe’s second.

The Welshman and right-back Jayden Bogle frequently found joy down the right flank as the pair exposed a weak Stoke defence. Daniel Farke cut a calm figure for most of the match but was fist-pumping the 3,383 travelling supporters come full-time. Here are a few things supporters may have missed.

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Solomon’s solution

While Stoke goalkeeper Viktor Johansson was getting treated after staying down following Piroe’s opener, Manor Solomon was called to the dugout to have a chat with one of the backroom staff.

The pair seemed to be gesturing regarding movements and position on the pitch. Up to that point Solomon had not managed to find much luck, and had earlier squandered a brilliant chance from just yards out from James’ brilliant cross.

Whatever was said may have been repeated in the dressing room at half-time and it clearly worked. Solomon was a lot more direct and was skipping past his markers with simplistic ease in the second half, managing to fire in a number of close efforts on goal.

Communication is key

Off camera, Joe Rodon, Joe Rothwell and captain Ethan Ampadu were in constant dialogue with teammates throughout the match, putting out fires before they could properly spread. As a result, Leeds took control of the game and finished the match with just three shots conceded and with 75 per cent possession.

Ampadu was used back in his defensive midfield role and was therefore able to rally his troops in the engine room, encouraging his colleagues to keep the pressure going after a few missed chances.

Communication is particularly important when you have flying full-backs looking to enter the final third. Ampadu was the glue that kept it all together, both by action and by words.

Farke left frustrated

As mentioned, Farke was serene for most of the contest and especially so after Piroe netted the second. There was one moment he was left unhappy, though, in an incident involving Sam Byram.

In the first half, the defender was sandwiched by two Stoke players, with Junior Tchamadeu causing Byram to be downed with a forceful shoulder barge. Farke was furious and protested angrily to the fourth official before an on-pitch scuffle between both sets of players ensued.

That quickly brought the attention of those on the touchline and normal service resumed once the moment had passed, with Tchamadeu handed a yellow card. Otherwise, Farke was far too focused to mind about much else.