Leeds United came within moments of picking up their first away point of the season, but it wasn’t to be. A stoppage-time own goal from Gabriel Gudmundsson gave Fulham all three points at Craven Cottage, just as it looked like Daniel Farke’s team would seal a share of the spoils.
Farke handed full league debuts to Noah Okafor and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, while Karl Darlow started in the Premier League for the first time since 2021 - when he was still at Newcastle. It was a Fulham debutant who stole the show, though, with Brazilian winger Kevin starring from the bench before the late drama.
“I have no critical words, just compliments for this performance, but sometimes you have to accept football is like this and can be cruel, and sometimes you are on the lucky side,” Farke said after the defeat.
“Everyone knows this, but it is football. Sometimes you are on the lucky side, sometimes you are on the unlucky side.”
There were positives from the performance, but certain issues remain, and this was reflected in how the national media reacted to Leeds' late defeat.
'The relief was seeing Leeds play so solidly'
Writing for The Athletic , Beren Cross argued the performance was a big improvement from the 5-0 loss at Arsenal in Leeds’ away opener.
He wrote: “If Leeds want to stay in the division, this is the kind of away game they have to target returns from.
“The relief was seeing Leeds play so solidly. Yes, Fulham had the territory and possession to keep United alert, but their first shot on target did not arrive until virtually an hour had been played.
“And even then, it was a spectacular free-kick from Wilson that Darlow padded away mid-air.”
Cross added: “It took an unfortunate break in the closing seconds to break their resistance but this was another display which showed Leeds can compete, even on the road.”
'Yet Leeds look a competitive, defensively solid side'
Writing for The Times, Hamzah Khalique-Loonat said: “Farke had committed no offence, rather it was his perceived lack of defence.
“His attacking football could not survive in the Premier League, we were told — with previous failures to compete with Norwich City in the top flight cited as evidence.
“Yet Leeds look a competitive, defensively solid side.
“They zipped the ball around in the first half, amassing a majority of possession in that period and neutering Fulham’s attack; Silva’s side did not muster a single shot on goal in that period. Leeds had four.”
Harry Wilson warming up before Fulham vs Leeds
We saw why Leeds wanted Harry Wilson (Image: Getty Images)
'Lack of killer edge in the final third is seriously worrying'
Leeds came close to landing Fulham talent Harry Wilson at the end of the transfer window, and The Mail’s Aadam Patel argued the Welshman showed Farke what his team are missing.
“It’s early doors but their lack of killer edge in the final third is seriously worrying,” he wrote.
“Across 360 minutes of Premier League football, they’ve scored once and it came from the spot.
“It’s the fewest they’ve scored after four games of a league campaign in their history.”
Referring to the Wilson free-kick saved by compatriot Darlow, he added: “Wilson was close to moving to Leeds on deadline day before Fulham pulled out of the deal and despite a relatively quiet display, that effort was an example of the quality that Leeds are dying out for.”
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