Leeds United are under pressure to win ahead of their trip to Wolves next weekend. A 1-0 defeat at Fulham has brought focus back on their lack of firepower up front, and they are facing the heat, just four games into the new Premier League season.
Daniel Farke’s pleas for more attacking reinforcements towards the end of the window are making complete sense now. His side have looked bereft of ideas, and cutting edge in the final third, and are yet to score a goal from open play this season.
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Leeds have gone more than 270 minutes of league football without scoring since Lukas Nmecha converted the penalty in the 1-0 win over Everton at Elland Road.
The Whites are facing intense pressure to not only avoid defeat, but also get a win at Wolves on Saturday. Vitor Pereira’s side have lost four on the bounce and are in a much more desperate situation than Leeds.
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Leeds United should not be facing one Wolves star on Saturday
Wolves lost 1-0 at Newcastle United this weekend, but more importantly, they should have had a defender sent off for an obvious red card.
In the 20th minute, Yerson Mosquera hauled Harvey Barnes down after a lofted ball over the top.
Former Premier League referee and PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has insisted that the centre-back should have been sent off for the challenge.
He conceded that the VAR not intervening was baffling, as it was an obvious red card as Barnes was through on goal, and the officials should be questioned for missing such an obvious foul.
“This is amazing for me because this is a foul. There’s no question. Looking at the position of the foul and the defenders, had that challenge not taken place, Barnes would have had a shot on goal”, the former Premier League referee told Football Insider.
“That is a clear red card. I do not understand where VAR was in that situation. There’s a new guy, Timothy Wood, an ex police officer, in the VAR room. Clearly, [Howard] Webb is trying new faces.
“If this is the quality of his judgement, Chris Kavanagh ought to have a quiet word with him. I’d have hoped Kavanagh had seen it, but he probably wanted confirmation.
“You might question the chances of controlling the ball, but knowing Barnes, had that foul not taken place, he would have controlled it and had a shot at goal.
“The decision should have been, was the incident inside or outside of the penalty area? Kavanagh’s been hugely let down here.”
Mosquera should be serving an extended suspension and not be available for the Leeds game
As Hackett insisted that Mosquera should have been sent off for the challenge, and he would not have been in the team against Leeds on Saturday.
It would have further compounded Wolves’ problems and handed Leeds one more advantage after Jorgen Larsen Strand’s injury issue, which is likely to keep him out of the game.
Leeds must still back themselves to get a result and walk away from Molineux with three points against a struggling Wolves side.
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