Leeds United’s Chris Wood scored his 20th league goal of the season on Saturday.
Leeds’ Kyle Bartley
Leeds United defender Kyle Bartley has told the Yorkshire Evening Post that Chris Wood is a nightmare to play against – but joked that he’s too scared to try and bully Pontus Jansson.
The Whites picked up a vital win on Saturday afternoon, as they beat Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 at Elland Road to boost their chances of winning promotion to the Premier League.
Chris Wood’s first-half goal from Gaetano Berardi’s cross proved to be the winner, as Rob Green saved Jordan Rhodes’ second half penalty to solidify Leeds’ place in the top six.
Garry Monk’s men now look to be closing in on a play-off place, and they have the goals of striker Wood to thank for a superb season so far.
The New Zealand international came in for criticism last season having scored 13 goals in 37 games following a move from Leicester City, but his goal against Wednesday was his 20th league goal of the season.
His importance is shown by the goal tallies of the rest of his Leeds team-mates. Whilst Wood sits top with 20 goals, the next highest goalscorer in the Leeds squad is Souleymane Doukara on just five, then Pablo Hernandez and Kyle Bartley on four.
After another impressive display on Saturday, defender Bartley has now had his say on Wood, telling the Yorkshire Evening Post that he is one of the best strikers in the Championship, suggesting the is an ‘absolute nightmare’ to play against due to his physical nature and the way he ‘bullies’ centre halves.
Chris Wood of Leeds United celebrates scoring against Sheffield Wednesday
However, Bartley joked that Wood is ‘too scared’ to try similar tactics on Pontus Jansson and Bartley himself in training, and the two Leeds centre backs tell him to simply save it for the weekend when he plays against the opposition.
“Chris is up there with the very best strikers in the division,” said Bartley. “It is massive for him to get that 20th league goal. As a striker, you set your personal targets and Chris is well on his way towards achieving his. It is not necessarily a case of saying Chris is all we have got in terms of goals, more a case of the fact that he has made that spot his own. That is all credit to him.”
“Chris has added a lot of goals this season but his overall play, week-in week-out, has been great. He really leads from the front and that takes the pressure off the defence; he gives everyone a lift by holding the ball up. The way he bullies centre- halves makes him an absolute nightmare to play against.”
“No, he is a bit too scared for that. We just tell him to save it for the weekend. Seriously, he has been brilliant for us and we have just got to hope that his form continues from now until the end of the season,” he added.
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