TEENAGER Archie Gray was singled out for praise by Leeds United boss Daniel Farke after the Whites recorded back-to-back victories for the first time since November 2022.

The 2-1 win against Bristol City featured the 17-year-old in the unfamiliar role of right-back.

It was a gamble that paid rich dividends as Farke admitted: “There was no guarantee it would work.”

Explaining his decision to play the exciting midfield rookie ahead of the more experienced Luke Ayling, the Leeds chief said: “We wanted to play a bit more with a technical player, inverted, like an additional midfielder. The strength of him is his pace and tracking the wingers.

“In possession his positioning allows Dan James to stretch the opponent a bit more, stay a bit wider. Archie was there with a terrific performance, especially against the ball. He was energetic in several positions. To adapt this quickly says a lot about his character and potential.”

It was James who broke the deadlock on 37 minutes knocking home a left-footed shot in front of the South Stand end after City failed to clear their lines. The Robins levelled when a rare lapse in concentration by the Leeds defence in the last act of the half allowed Kai Naismith to head in a Taylor Gardner-Hickman.

Bristol had started with confidence without creating too much of note in attack before Leeds took control through Ethan Amapadu and Glen Kamara but United once again lacked a cutting edge in the final third.

Eight minutes after the turn round United regained the lead with Joel Piroe’s accurate grasscutter into Max O’Leary’s bottom corner giving him a fifth goal in eight games. After that it was mainly one-way traffic with the dangerous Crysensio Summerville seeing O’Leary flick and goal-bound shot onto the woodwork and Georginio Rutter having an effort disallowed.

Rutter was everywhere with another thrilling display yet could have made life so much easier had he taken the simplest of chances from Summerville’s pass early in the game.

Like the midweek 1-0 win against QPR a single goal advantage always gives the opposition hope and the visitors could have snatched a point but for a superb block by Sam Byram to deny substitute Andreas Weimann with six minutes remaining.

Leeds, deserved winners, should have had no need to be sweating at the end.

“The game should’ve been done and buried at half-time. The amount of chances and quality of chances that we missed was unbelievable,” said Farke.

“We conceded a sucker-punch but well done to the lads for how they reacted. They were not annoyed and we did really well in the second half to go back in front.

“Then, again, it was the same story with an unbelievable amount of chances, and if you don’t bury the game, the last 15 minutes are always a bit wild.”

Leeds, unbeaten at Elland Road this season, moved up to fifth and resume business on October 21 when they visit Farke’s old club Norwich City.