Another battling display saw Leeds United do enough to secure a point at Fulham and on another day, it might have been a win. But this is Leeds, in London. So, they suffered defeat.
Daniel Farke said post-match that sometimes, these things are written in the stars. On 94 minutes, Gabriel Gudmundsson inadvertently deflected the ball into the only part of the goal Karl Darlow couldn’t reach.
It came after Sean Longstaff hit the bar, Dominic Calvert-Lewin planted a header directly at Bernd Leno from eight yards out, and Brenden Aaronson’s neat near-post flick was tipped round the post by Leno.
There are question marks about Farke’s pragmatic approach, but Leeds fans would much rather be solid in defence than like Russell Martin’s Southampton last season. Ultimately, a point would have been good.
Daniel Farke watches on as Leeds lose to Fulham.
Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
Unlikely Leeds star wins more tackles than anybody at Fulham
A third clean sheet from four was deserved and would have been a stat every Leeds fan would have taken going into the new campaign. Even Marco Silva admitted his Fulham side were lucky to win on Saturday.
This is the approach Leeds are going to use throughout the season. Hard-working, tough to beat, battling for points. It might be the reason that Farke made the surprise decision to start Aaronson on the right.
Brenden Aaronson and Harry Gray ahead of Leeds' clash against Sheffield Wednesday.
Photo by Pat Scaasi/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
But actually, Aaronson played well. The American’s reputation is that he is too weak for English football and struggles when put under pressure but actually, Aaronson proved the exact opposite on Saturday.
Even though he was subbed off at 77 minutes, no other player matched his five tackles on Saturday. Only two players won more duels than Aaronson (8), and only one made more defensive contributions.
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Brenden Aaronson’s stats for Leeds in defeat to Fulham:
77 minutes played, 7.0 FotMob rating (Leeds’ second best behind Karl Darlow’s 7.7)
0.13 XG (fifth-best on pitch), one shot on target, 1/3 successful dribbles
44 touches, 14/17 passes completed (82%)
12 defensive contributions (Leeds’ joint-best with Ethan Ampadu, only Joachim Andersen had more)
Eight duels won (only Anton Stach and Ryan Sessegnon had more)
Five tackles (best on pitch)
Brenden Aaronson can be Leeds’ secret weapon in new Farke style
If Leeds are to survive, Farke believes playing this type of football gives Leeds their best chance. Leeds’ best players are in defence and in midfield, so focusing and playing to their strengths makes more sense.
Leeds do not have the creativity or the technical ability of most other Premier League sides. They do not have a goal machine that is going to score 20 goals, they don’t have wingers that will lay on 10 assists.
But they have hard-working, battle-hardened players like Ethan Ampadu, Longstaff, Gudmundsson and Joe Rodon. Aaronson, judging on this showing, can be added to that list, which defies his reputation.
The stats prove that Aaronson is not the weak, fragile kind of technical player that most Leeds fans think he is. There was a reason Farke started him, and it is because he will work his socks off for the badge.