Joel Piroe responds with message after Leeds fans destroy him
Joel Piroe remained upbeat on social media despite receiving criticism from Leeds fans for his performance in their most recent fixture.
Leeds climbed back to the top of the Championship table on 8 April with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Middlesbrough, with an early strike from Dan James.
However, refereeing decisions became a major talking point during the match. Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett slammed the officials for disallowing Patrick Bamford’s goal, insisting that replays clearly showed he had timed his run perfectly and should have been awarded the goal.
Meanwhile, Piroe came under fire from Leeds fans for his performance, with many calling for Bamford to take his place in the starting eleven following the latter’s energetic impact from the bench.
Despite the criticism, the Dutchman appeared to remain focused and positive, sharing a message with supporters as Leeds head into the final and most crucial stretch of their promotion push.
Leeds fans call for Patrick Bamford to start ahead of Joel Piroe amid goal drought
The striker had a message for supporters on Instagram, sharing images from the match along with a caption featuring a “Top” emoji–referring to Leeds reclaiming their place at the top of the Championship.
Piroe has struggled for Leeds in recent games, as he is currently undergoing a seven-game goal drought in front of goal.
His dip in form has come at a crucial stage of the campaign with Leeds locked in a tense three-way battle for automatic promotion. Every goal counts and supporters are beginning to call for a change up front.
Although Burnley and Sheffield United both dropped points, allowing Farke’s side to regain top spot, many fans believe Bamford’s impact off the Leeds bench justifies a start in the upcoming fixtures.
Despite Piroe’s recent struggles, the 25-year-old has played a vital role this season, making 43 appearances across all competitions, scoring 15 goals and registering six assists.
| Leeds United’s next three fixtures | Date |
| Leeds vs Preston | 12 April |
| Oxford United vs Leeds | 18 April |
| Leeds vs Stoke | 21 Aprii |
Daniel Farke under pressure as promotion race intensifies
The Whites have spent much of the season leading the Championship, but the race for automatic promotion remains razor-tight with just two points separating the top three teams.
However, Mick Brown, former Man United chief scout, told Football Insider that Farke is at risk of being sacked if Leeds fail to secure promotion this season.
This comes after Brown told Football Insider last month that Farke is under increasing pressure at Leeds in the closing stages of the season.
For now, all eyes are on the manager’s selection choices, with fans eager to see whether he’ll persist with Piroe or give Bamford a bigger role in what could be a season-defining run-in.