Former Leeds United star Leigh Bromby has admitted has criticised Joel Piroe for his display at home to Coventry City on Saturday after the Peacocks dropped more points in the race for promotion.
Having taken the lead just before the hour mark through Crysencio Summerville, Leeds let the three points slip merely eight minutes later when centre-back Bobby Thomas equalised for the visitors to clinch a draw.
This was the second consecutive game where Daniel Farke’s side dropped points, having lost against managerless promotion hopefuls Sunderland earlier in the week when Jobe Bellingham bagged a winner late on.
The Whites have some tricky games on the horizon, including a huge top-of-the-table clash with Ipswich Town at Elland Road this coming Saturday, followed by away matches against Preston North End and West Bromwich Albion.
Speaking after the game on Saturday afternoon on BBC Radio Leeds, ex-player Bromby admitted that summer signing Piroe was below par throughout the match [quotes via Inside Futbol]:
“The type of player he is, he is a moments player.
“The Bristol [City] game I came to, he had one shot and he scored that goal.
“Today, he didn’t have any opportunities and none dropped to him,” he continued.
“He was innocuous in terms of his involvement in goals and I can see why he played him because he is a top player.
“But today wasn’t one of his better games, he wasn’t involved at all and I can’t remember him having a goal involvement at all or mentioning him at all.
“You can expect a bit more.”
After a fruitful spell in Wales with Swansea City, the Dutch attacker moved to Elland Road during the summer transfer window for £10 million and has been part of the joint-third-most potent attack in the Championship this term.
Writer’s View
The 24-year-old is Leeds’ second-highest goalscorer in all competitions, having found the net eight times and recorded one assist in total, although Piroe has been underperforming his 9.3 xG this season, as per FotMob.
Nevertheless, the former Swansea man has arguably been one of Leeds’ best players and can create chances but put them away too, despite not being the most prolific player in the team. He will be huge for Farke over the coming weeks as Leeds hope to claw back some points on second-place Ipswich.