By Alex Stevens
Leeds fans have hailed the impact of youngster Lewie Coyle in their team’s 1-0 win against Derby in the Championship on Friday.
Coyle was drafted into the team for his very first Championship start of the campaign, after appearing as a substitute in the first game of the season, which Leeds lost 3-0.
Coyle put in a composed performance at right-back, with star defenders Pontus Jansson, Liam Cooper and Charlie Taylor all out.
Fans were quick to recognise the important part he played in the team’s victory but also that he deserved singling out for some fantastic defending, especially in the second half when Derby looked dangerous on the break.
Here is a selection of their messages:
Very impressed with Vieira & Coyle tonight #lufc
— brian mcmahon (@bpmcm) January 13, 2017
Coyle has been calm and composed tonight ???????? #lufc
— James (@jimmy_L_UFC) January 13, 2017
The way we got back in numbers there was brilliant. And a word for Lewie Coyle: 1st Champ start of season and he's been superb.#LUFC
— James Marshment (@marshyleeds) January 13, 2017
Lewie Coyle having an incredible game, what a piece of defending #LUFC #MOT
— Rob Campbell (@RobCampbell97) January 13, 2017
Lewy Coyle, superb. #lufc
— Lee Deverell (@LeeDeverell1989) January 13, 2017
https://twitter.com/JonathanSwift/status/820014805457190912
Link up play between Coyle, Hernandez and Roofe ???????? #lufc
— Luke Rhodes (@1LukeRhodes) January 13, 2017
Ayling is class at RB… but tell you what, Coyle is gonna be top drawer!! #LUFC
— KaiserChief82 (@KaiserChief82) January 13, 2017
It was only Coyle’s seventh appearance in all competitions this season but you wouldn’t have guessed it from the game.
His performance is a huge boost for Leeds who now know they have more cover in defence than they might have thought.
With Jansson, Taylor and Cooper to come back, things are looking extremely bright for Leeds.
They’re currently eight points clear of Derby in seventh place in the league and they’re starting to reel Newcastle and Derby back in, in the automatic promotion spots.
Leeds’ next game is away at Barnsley next Saturday in the tea-time kick-off.
In other Leeds team news, Radrizzani has declared how long he will be at Leeds in the programme notes.
