Noel Whelan names the two key Leeds players, makes huge statement about one
By Alex Stevens
Noel Whelan paid tribute to Chris Wood and Rob Green following their impressive displays in Leeds’ 2-0 Championship win against Brighton at Elland Road on Saturday.
Wood scored both of the home side’s goals as they secured the three points to narrow the gap on the Seagulls in the second automatic promotion place to eight points.
It lifted Wood’s league tally for the season to 24 goals, and an incredible 27 in all competitions, to consolidate Leeds’ place at fourth in the table.
Goalkeeper Green, on the day that Football Insider revealed he had signed a new 12-month contract, made some fine saves to secure another clean sheet for his team.
Ex-Elland Road striker Whelan is hugely encouraged that Wood and Green are the two standout players in the team at a crucial stage of the campaign, and made a huge statement about the prolific forward.
“Where do you want the spotlights to be? The goalkeeper and the striker. They win you games. and they produced at both ends. You can’t ask for any more from them, but everyone has done their job to the maximum,” Whelan told BBC Radio Leeds, as quoted by the BBC Leeds live matchday blog (Saturday, 7.27pm).
New Zealand international Wood broke the deadlock with a superbly directed second-half header from Charlie Taylor’s cross and then wrapped up the win with an emphatic penalty.
“For Chris Wood’s first, it was about the accuracy of the header – and his confidence,” said Whelan to BBC Leeds. “He just looks the complete centre forward right now – his movement, his chasing, his positioning. He’s on track for 30 goals in a season, which is phenomenal. He must think he’s the best striker in the world, in his head – and I wouldn’t argue with him!
“He oozes confidence – Brighton’s centre halves will know they’ve been in a game today.
“The more you score, the more you’re marked closely. The best strikers in the world find ways, and Wood finds those ways. Good strikers don’t think about missed chances – they wait for the next opportunity to come, and he certainly did that.”
Brighton suffered their third defeat in five matches to give Leeds encouragement they can finish in the top two , with eight matches of the campaign remaining.
In other Leeds transfer news, the Yorkshire giants are in shock talks to sign a Liverpool attacking player.
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