James Trafford Gustavo Hamer Dan James Leeds
(Credit: Imago, Getty Images)

Leeds United fans rage at ‘corrupt’ chiefs after confirmed triple player blow

Jonathan Burnett
Jonathan Burnett

Leeds United supporters haven’t held back after Dan James, Joel Piroe and Junior Firpo were overlooked at the EFL awards.

Daniel Farke‘s side only have a few more weeks to concern themselves with EFL affairs, with promotion already sealed and two games left for Leeds to go toe-to-toe with Burnley for the Championship title.

The Whites’ promotion-clincher against Stoke City at Elland Road saw this season’s star players come to the fore, with Joel Piroe’s four goal haul and 20-minute hat-trick added to by Firpo and Wilfried Gnonto.

Monday’s meeting with Bristol City gives United fans their first chance to truly celebrate promotion inside Elland Road, but Farke’s side still need to win if they’re to truly take the fight for the title to the last day.

Joel Piroe Leeds United
Credit: Imago

James loses out on top EFL award at Leeds United

Promotion was the one and only goal for the current season after Leeds’ play-off final defeat last May, but there’s little doubt Farke has assembled arguably the most skilful and deepest squad in the division.

However, at the EFL awards on Sunday (27 April), several of Leeds’ key players were overlooked for the top prizes; not least James, who missed out to Sheffield United’s Gustavo Hamer for player of the year.

The Championship team of the season was also named with only Ao Tanaka, Jayden Bogle included from Leeds alongside James, who was joined by two players from 14th-placed Norwich City in the front three.

Dan James, Leeds United
Credit: Imago
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EFL slammed after Leeds snubs – ‘Who on earth picked this?’

As Leeds and Burnley have pulled away from Sheffield United in the Championship’s top two, so too has the expectation that James or the Clarets’ goalkeeper James Trafford would win the EFL’s top prize.

Hamer’s success has taken Leeds fans aback with some left “stunned” at the “ridiculous” decision to overlook James, while others said that Hamer “isn’t even the best midfielder in the Championship”.

The absences of Firpo and Piroe were also acknowledged by the Elland Road faithful, with the latter overlooked for Josh Sargent despite his greater number of goals and Norwich’s lowly league position.

With the consensus that there’s “no way on earth” that Hamer had a better season than James, Leeds supporters will hope to see the Welshman return to action against Bristol City, and put in a performance which underlines just how good he has been this term.

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