Talking Tactics: All roads Leed to the Premier League for Farke

Leeds are intent on turning the Championship automatic promotion battle into a three-horse race.

Leicester and Ipswich have stormed clear at the top of the division — but it is a marathon, not a sprint, and United have clicked into gear with plenty of time to eat up the eight-point gap.

Daniel Farke is a specialist at this level and looks capable of ensuring a squad full of quality is not in the second tier for long.

Ahead of Friday's visit to Rotherham, we take a look at their promotion credentials.

Farke effect

Appointing Farke as manager in the summer went a long way towards transforming Leeds from chaotic to calm.

The placid German has a sensational Championship record, winning the league with Norwich in two of his three campaigns at this level — and doing so in style.

His Canaries scored 93 goals in their victorious 2018-19 season — the second-most any team has netted since 2015 — before notching 75 more as they lifted the title again two years later.

And when questioned recently about a tactical decision at Leeds, he said: "When it comes down to winning this league, I know my business. I know what I have to do."

Finding form

Not helped by a hectic end to the transfer window, Farke's side made a slow start to the season, winning one of their first five league matches.

Having all but kept pace with Leicester and Ipswich since the September international break, though, they are clearly capable of catching up.

The 2020 champions have won six of their last seven games, including a statement victory away at the King Power Stadium at the beginning of the month.

They rank second in the division for both shots taken — well above the Foxes in ninth — and shots conceded, so are playing like a top-two side.

Powerful engine

Midfield duo Ethan Ampadu and Glen Kamara have started seven of the last nine matches together, providing the platform for Leeds' uptick in form.

The pair are formidable defensively with Ampadu dribbled past just 0.4 times per game this season — the ninth-fewest of any midfielder in the league.

And partnered with the summer signing of the excellent Kamara, opposition players are finding it difficult to get anywhere near United's goal.

Their form has forced 17-year-old starlet Archie Gray — linked with Liverpool — out of position to right-back in recent games.

And Gray could lose his place completely when another quality option in Djed Spence returns to fitness in the coming weeks.

Fab four

Farke's sides are synonymous with goals and a front four of Daniel James, Joel Piroe, Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter are doing the business for their boss.

Summerville has arguably been the best player in the league, ranking fifth for shots per game and fourth for expected goals.

And the Dutchman is joined by both Rutter and James inside the top 12 providers in the division so far this season, proving their quality as a unit.

The fourth member of that fab four, Piroe, has six goals.

It leaves the likes of Wilfried Gnonto, Patrick Bamford and Jaidon Anthony in reserve — ready to use their fresh legs to power Leeds into the Premier League by May.