Inside Elland Road: Defensive solidity is vital for Leeds Utd
The YEP's Leeds United jury have had their say on Sunday's defeat at Nottingham Forest and what it means for Daniel Farke.
Leeds United endured another miserable day on the road after losing 3-1 at Nottingham Forest on Sunday. Goals from Ibrahim Sangare, Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson condemned the Whites to a fourth defeat in five to leave them one point above the relegation zone. Below, the YEP jury give their thoughts.
DAVID WATKINS
Oh dear, we didn’t need that. As we go into another two-week break, we really needed a rip-roaring performance. What we got was another lacklustre display that suggested we will struggle as the season goes on, especially as we now face a run of games that all look unlikely sources of points.
Quite what the ramifications of being in the bottom three at Christmas would be, I’m not sure. We got off to the perfect start, too. Lukas Nmecha scored a 13th-minute goal that ought to have settled any nerves we had going into what many considered to be a “must-not-lose game.”
But within two minutes, we’d given the momentum straight back to the home side. It is tempting to suggest we are not learning the art of self-preservation in the Premier League.
Once again, a bit of game management was all we needed to hold the lead for a while and get the home crowd fidgety. We blew it. The second half saw Leeds remaining in the game for 20 minutes or so, but without ever looking likely to steal all three points.
Once Forest grabbed the lead, there was only ever one winner, and it wasn’t Leeds. Much to think about over the break.
Man of the match: Lukas Nmecha – for his goal.
MIKE GILL
Leeds United’s terrible away form continues and while many of our rivals in the basement are waking up, Leeds appear to be falling asleep. It started well enough, with a sharp-looking Lukas Nmecha coolly slotting home a great assist from Brenden Aaronson.
It was looking good – a goal from open play away from home, produced by free flowing football and scoring first. Two minutes later, disaster struck accompanied by its close neighbour – reality.
Ibrahim Sangare equalised, after Lucas Perri had parried Dan Ndoye’s shot to his feet. Morgan Gibbs-White added another on 68 minutes before Elliot Anderson scored from the penalty spot in added on time after some unforgivable clumsiness from Jack Harrison.
The comfortable cushion which separated the Whites from the relegation places has now been snatched away and replaced by a thin sheet of tissue paper. Yet another international break awaits and the manager and players can lick their wounds before welcoming Aston Villa to Elland Road.
Some sort of result will be needed then as the vultures are already circling and as we all know, when no other solutions are forthcoming, replacing the manager seems to be the usual option.
Man of the match: Gabriel Gudmunsson.
KEITH INGHAM
The 3-1 defeat at Forest will definitely put pressure on Daniel Farke and if you look on social media and listen to post-match radio, there is a growing thought that there has to be a change of manager. It’s up to the owners now if they ‘stick or twist’ but with four tough games coming up there has to be something happening or Leeds will be in the bottom three soon enough.
West Ham made the change and have won their last two games, so maybe it’s worth considering, but who do you bring in to replace Farke, that’s the big question?
Leeds went ahead with a nice move involving Okafor and Aaronson that ended with Nmecha finishing superbly. That was Leeds’ only shot of a tepid first half. Forest were level within two minutes when Perri parried a ball and Sangare scored.
Morgan Gibbs-White scored Nottingham Forest's second goal from close range.placeholder image
Morgan Gibbs-White scored Nottingham Forest's second goal from close range. | Getty Images
Leeds had more possession in the second half but once again did little with it, and it was no surprise when Morgan Gibbs-White put Forest ahead with 20 minutes to play. Substitute James at least had a shot, but the game was ended when Anderson scored an injury-time penalty.
I’m disappointed that the same excuses are ‘wheeled’ out by the manager after every defeat. The most damning thing was that James was fit but Farke stuck by Aaronson.
Man of the match: Don’t think anybody stood out.
NEIL GREWER
A bad day. The day started well when Noah Okafor’s persistence resulted in Lukas Nmecha finishing well, but turned sour when, within a few minutes, Forest equalised following a parry from Lucas Perri which fell into a space unoccupied by Leeds defenders and Ibrahim Sangare netted.
Leeds were too predictable, building all attacks on the left flank where Okafor had the beating of the full-back, but Forest smothered that side of the pitch. So it was ironic then that Forest were able to switch play from left to right to Amari Hutchinson who was allowed to cross and find an unmarked Morgan Gibbs-White who headed home unmarked, between our two “giant” defenders. Awful.
Daniel Farke introduced substitutes and Dan James on the fight wing immediately caused issues for Forest as Leeds started to look slightly threatening but then Hutchinson was clumsily fouled by substitute Jack Harrison and the resultant penalty ended any hope we had.
Brendan Aaronson won the ball on many occasions only to be dispossessed immediately and Nmecha up against two beasts had little joy holding the ball up. Something needs to change.
Man of the match: Lucas Perri – for a couple of excellent saves.
ANDY RHODES
This was another toothless defeat and another game where questions need to be answered. Some of the teams Leeds have faced recently have hardly looked like world beaters, but they’ve been comfortably better than the Whites in every department.
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Although it was 1-1 at half-time the stats didn’t make for great reading and Nottingham Forest’s dominance was reflected in the final scoreline. Whether the buck stops with Daniel Farke or the 49ers, change is needed to stop the slide into the relegation zone.
Leeds looked out of ideas and unable to cope with the physicality of Forest’s defenders. Even though Forest have been struggling this season, the game marks the start of a run against four of last season’s top seven, with Aston Villa, Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool to come.
If points don’t come after the international break you’d think Leeds will be in the bottom three. This week’s Jury won’t make for positive reading, but are there any positives to take?
Man of the match: Lukas Nmecha.
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