By Alex Stevens
Steve Evans has praised Lewis Cook, Lewie Coyle and Lee Erwin for producing “stunning” displays in Leeds’ third straight win on Tuesday night.
Evans’ side beat fellow mid-table club Wolves 2-1 to boost their hopes of a top-ten Championship finish.
A wonder goal from Sol Bamba and Toumani Diagouraga’s second strike in a week put Steve Evans’ side 2-0 ahead after 64 minutes at Elland Road before George Saville pulled one back for the visitors.
Leeds have now beaten Wolves, Reading and Birmingham in their last three matches to lift them to 57 points and 11th position in the Championship table.
“The second half was pretty special,” Steve Evans told BBC Radio Leeds afterwards. “The first half, Chris Wood could have scored three or four and then in the second half we could have had seven or eight, such was the quality.
“We’ve said for a long time that the longer we are here, the better Leeds will become. A lot of players have points to prove but I have no doubt if we remain in charge, we will fight for promotion.”
Evans made three changes from the side that beat Reading on Saturday, with Bamba, Coyle and Erwin, who was handed his first Leeds start, replacing Giuseppe Bellusci, Mirco Antenucci and the unwell Stuart Dallas.
“If I’ve seen Sol Bamba shoot 47 times, I’ve never seen him hit the target, let alone score,” Evans added.
“Lewis Cook seems to be getting better and better and there’s lots of pleasing things tonight; I thought Lewie Coyle and Lee Erwin were stunning in the second half.
“Lewis is a stunning young player and this club has to continue to develop him. I take great pride in him because I think this club has made him better. He is a wonderful player.”
Leeds’ win came in difficult circumstances as a virus in the camp meant Dallas, who scored twice against Birmingham last Tuesday, was too unwell to start and dropped to the bench.
Leeds were also without the injured Mustapha Carayol as well as suspended pair Souleymane Doukara and Alex Mowatt.
In other Leeds news, Evans has explained how Lewis Cook can rise to be on a par with one of the Premier League’s biggest stars.