Run for 90 minutes. Clear nearly every cross. Cut out or collect each through-ball. Muscle off the attackers. Go home with nothing. This is the Premier League and its brutality.
Gabriel Gudmundsson will not want to watch the defining moment back and Leeds United won’t want to either. They harried and hassled Fulham and were the better side in stages but a stoppage time own goal leaves them empty handed.
United were the ones scoring late on last season but had to swallow their own medicine this time. Daniel Farke said he was proud of his side, who did not deserve to lose. But it's not about performances, it’s about points.
The away game
Leeds were hardly expected to get a result away at Arsenal but they will be expected to put up a more concerted fight against teams such as Fulham, as they did do. Elland Road is where most points will be gained but that does not mean away form can be disregarded.
In fact, this could be the difference between survival and going down. So yesterday's performance was encouragement for the future - but it was ultimately not enough.
The match at possible relegation rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers next week takes on new importance now, as three straight away defeats without a goal would move things from a concern into an outright problem. Especially in the final third…
Scoring concern
And that brings up another point. Leeds have now not scored in 277 minutes in the Premier League. And that came from the penalty spot, so none have come from open play.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin was handed his first start in a Leeds shirt, the first choice striker finally fit enough to show himself over a longer period of time on the pitch. The new signing showed his aerial ability by winning a series of headers, nearly every one.
However, he was caught offside on a few occasions and didn’t do much otherwise. Noah Okafor was the brightest attacker, but Fulham sussed him out after half-time. Still, there is a glimpse of what could be.
But he alone will not be enough. After full-time Farke said, yet again, Leeds need more quality in attack and he cannot ask players to do what they are not capable of. He knows his job is to figure out a way to squeeze everything he can out of what he’s got.
James injury worry
Farke had hinted that Daniel James was not 100% fit after Wales duty but nobody expected Brenden Aaronson to be the player to start on the right. Either way, James is now a concerted injury concern.
The Welshman came on in the second half but was forced to go off after taking a whack to the side upon a challenge when winning a free-kick. He had to go off, though Farke hopes it is nothing serious.
But there is a growing trend that Leeds cannot shake. James is hardly the first to pick up a problem this season and we are only on gameweek four. Injuries are part and parcel of the game but for a newly-promoted side, it is essential all key players are fit for as long as possible. Thank goodness Ethan Ampadu and Ao Tanaka are back.
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