What Went Wrong?

Leeds United defeated by promotion rivals Burnley at Elland Road In what could prove to be a crucial ‘six-pointer’ in the promotion race by the time May rolls around, Leeds United were defeated 0-1 at Elland Road by Burnley. 

The game was a chance for Daniel Farke’s settled squad, now reinforced by the late summer additions of Manor Solomon, Largie Ramazani and Ao Tanaka, to test themselves against a side that will likely be battling with the Whites at the upper echelon of the table. When the final whistle eventually came, Leeds fans were left with a feeling of déjà vu after yet again struggling to find a way through a low block under Farke.

Leeds’ best chance of the game arguably came within the first sixty seconds. Luca Koleosho’s sloppy pass back did Maxime Esteve no favours as the defender surrendered possession to Mateo Joseph. Joseph found himself through on goal from the halfway line but couldn’t manage to set himself properly before dragging his effort wide and sparing the blushes of Koleosho. United were in the ascension and although Ilia Gruev’s strike from distance did little to threaten James Trafford in the Burnley goal, it was another sign that Leeds had control of the game during the first ten minutes. However, Zian Flemming reminded Leeds that Burnley were a threat on the counter-attack a few minutes later.

Josh Laurent picked up a loose ball in midfield before sliding it into the path of Flemming. Flemming, who was being mercilessly harassed by Joe Rodon, managed to get a shot off, but it was a tame one and easily gathered by Illan Meslier. But for all the possession Leeds had early on, it was Burnley who took the lead just before the twenty-minute mark. Koleosho was the one to pounce upon a mistake this time, as Manor Solomon slipped whilst in possession and Leeds were caught out after committing bodies forward for a set-piece. Koleosho then drove into the Leeds penalty area after picking up the ball deep within his own half before composing himself and drilling his effort into the bottom left-hand corner. Leeds had a massive chance to respond just five minutes later when Brendan Aaronson’s reverse ball slipped Willy Gnonto in behind, but Gnonto’s left-footed strike went straight into the chest of Trafford. Ten minutes before the break, Aaronson had another chance to play Gnonto through, but Esteve was there to intercept. Luckily for Leeds, Solomon was on hand to latch onto the loose ball before being brought down in the penalty area by Joe Worrall. Worrall had been caught out of position before sliding in from behind on Solomon and despite not appearing to play the ball, Leeds had to settle for a corner. Joseph’s curling effort from outside the area forced a good save out of Trafford within ten minutes of the restart as Leeds continued to search for a way back into the game, but clear-cut chances were a rarity for Leeds during the second half as the lateral passing in the final-third lacked any real conviction or tempo.

Ethan Ampadu’s shot from twenty yards just after the hour mark was tipped over the bar by
Trafford, after the ball ricocheted into the path of the midfielder when Gnonto ran into traffic
in the penalty area. This was Leeds’ last meaningful chance of the game, the substitutes made by Daniel Farke
came too late and the shape of the team went out of the window when chasing the game
within the final twenty minutes. Despite Bashir Humphreys being sent off for a second booking deep into stoppage time, there was not enough time for Leeds to make the numbers advantage count as they were
handed their first league defeat of the season.