Leeds United secured their third Premier League victory of the season, defeating West Ham United 2-1 at Elland Road. One standout performer demonstrated that Leeds possesses the qualities needed for Premier League survival. The introduction of a new signing, Jaka Bijol, proved to be a game-changer for Daniel Farke’s side. This highlights the importance of effective recruitment in Leeds’s fight to remain in the Premier League.
Daniel Farke’s tactical switch pays off for Leeds United
Leeds had only won one of their previous four home games before the crucial clash with West Ham. Prior to the West Ham match, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Pascal Struijk, Joe Rodon, and Jayden Bogle had consistently started in defense. However, Daniel Farke’s decision to bring Jaka Bijol into the lineup in place of Pascal Struijk proved to be a masterstroke.
Pascal Struijk was dropped for the game against West Ham after a sub-par showing against Burnley. Jaka Bijol, who joined Leeds from Udinese in the summer, had been serving a suspension after the season-opening win against Everton. As a result, the West Ham match marked his first Premier League appearance.
Jaka Bijol is making an instant impact in the Premier League
The Slovenian international put in a tremendous performance. According to WhoScored, Jaka Bijol average of two tackles was the highest among all Leeds centre-backs this season. Additionally, his two interceptions per 90 minutes made him the team’s best at disrupting opposition attacks.
Bijol’s impressive display earned him a rating of 7.24, making him Leeds’s highest-rated player so far this season. His ten clearances demonstrated his dominance in defense. This clearance rate is the highest in the Premier League, surpassing Virgil van Dijk’s 9.6 and Marcos Senesi’s 7.9 per 90 minutes.
Pascal Struijk’s future role at Leeds United
Despite his impressive start, Jaka Bijol still has room for improvement. Leeds legend Stuart Dallas suggested that Daniel Farke would be disappointed that Leeds failed to keep a clean sheet against West Ham. Nonetheless, there are promising signs that Jaka Bijol’s arrival will make them more resilient and help them avoid relegation.
Pascal Struijk had been instrumental in Leeds’s Premier League campaign. The Belgian-born Netherlands international even captained Leeds in a 5-0 loss to Arsenal and a home draw against Newcastle. Leeds had secured eight points from eight games with him in the team, including vital wins against Everton and Wolves. However, Jaka Bijol’s aerial prowess could make Daniel Farke’s team more difficult to break down.
TBR Football’s chief correspondent Graeme Bailey said of Struijk’s minutes going forward: “Again, it’s a squad game. Struijk has generally been outstanding, but Bijol is worthy of game time. Leeds are in this for the long haul and having depth is key. At this point, there is nothing to read into it, but Bijol will be more than hopeful of having a good run. In many ways, it points to good recruitment, with Leeds having that option to replace someone like Struijk.”
Leeds now have four solid centre-backs when you bring Ethan Ampadu into the mix. Despite Jamie Carragher previously calling Struijk ’embarrassing’, he has impressed. This group of defensive players will give Leeds fans hope for another Premier League campaign in 2026-27.
