Leeds boss Daniel Farke saluted four-goal Joel Piroe after his side thrashed Stoke 6-0 at Elland Road to stand on the brink of Premier League promotion.
Piroe fired Leeds’ fastest-ever league hat-trick with strikes in the sixth, eighth and 20th minutes and added his fourth before half-time after Junior Firpo had put Farke’s side 4-0 up in 26 minutes.
Willy Gnonto headed Leeds’ sixth in the second half as they stayed on course to end their two-year top-flight absence with a fourth straight league win and their 17th at home this season.
Farke said Piroe’s four-goal haul, which took the striker’s league tally for the season to 19, was just reward for his recent performances.
“He had this dip, but has worked so hard to get himself out of this situation,” the former Norwich head coach said.
“Even in recent weeks his performances were way better and he created chances, but the ball didn’t want to go in the net.
“It’s a bit like shaking a bottle of Ketchup when all of a sudden everything comes out.
“That was the case for Joel today. Great game, but not just his goals, his workload, he has several assists – his goal involvements this season is priceless for us.
“He’s proven again today why he’s such a decisive key player at this level for us.”
Farke, whose side slipped out of the top two during last season’s run-in before losing to Southampton in the play-off final, said his players deserve huge credit for holding their nerve this time round.
He added: “How the lads have handled the last few weeks during this crunch-time period when there’s lots of pressure on them.
“The way we have performed in the last few weeks, the spirit and quality of the performances and the consistency of the results, especially with the clean sheets, has been second to none.
“It’s really amazing and all the credit goes to the boys for the way they have handled this situation, not just the quality of the performance, but the mentality and spirit has been unbelievable. It’s a priceless three points today.”
Stoke began the day seven points above the relegation zone after winning three and drawing two of their previous five matches, but boss Mark Robins was scathing of his side’s display.
“It was a game we didn’t take part in,” Robins said. “We looked frightened to death. It gives me a lot of food for thought, but it was really disappointing.
“We just weren’t at the races and didn’t look anything like we have done of late and let everybody down.
“That isn’t a performance befitting of any team. Certainly not mine or Stoke City’s. We just didn’t lay a glove on them.”
