Inside Elland Road: Are they still playing for Farke?
The YEP’s key talking points from another defeat but a promising second-half performance from Leeds United.
Leeds United were unable to reward themselves for a spirited second-half performance at Manchester City on Saturday, eventually losing 3-2 in devastating fashion. The Whites fought back from 2-0 down to draw level thanks to goals from Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha, with their hosts looking rattled.
City managed to regain control of the game as full-time approached, however, and after opening the scoring inside the first minute, Phil Foden landed a late gut punch to Leeds hearts with a 91st-minute winner. Here are the YEP’s key talking points from the defeat at the Etihad.
A familiar issue despite major changes
Speaking in the build-up to Saturday’s game, Farke acknowledged the pattern of Leeds conceding goals from attacks down their left side and in an attempt to fix that issue, swapped out Gabriel Gudmundsson and Noah Okafor for Gabriel Gudmundsson and Willy Gnonto as part of five changes. It was a bold move but the same problem repeated itself with less than a minute gone.
As Bernardo Silva gathered a long ball out wide, Gnonto allowed Matheus Nunes to run beyond him and to the byline before crossing to goalscorer Foden, in what was the worst possible start for Leeds. This was not tiredness - it was less than 60 seconds in - but yet another example of how swiftly you can be punished when switching off for just a moment.
First-half woes with rare hint to success
City cruised through that opening 45 minutes like a training exercise and Leeds didn’t help themselves. Build-up play was laboured and overly patient, while attempts to go long through goalkeeper Lucas Perri often didn’t come off, be it from an inaccurate pass or Nmecha being too isolated.
A lot of Leeds’ struggles were down to City, whose ability to pin opponents within their own half and slowly build pressure is virtually unmatched, and when Josko Gvardiol made it 2-0 the game looked gone. But there are ways to cause problems for Pep Guardiola’s side and a long ball for Daniel James on 31 minutes that eventually presented a shot for Nmecha offered a hint at what was to come.
Daniel Farke breaks rank with half-time substitutions
Leeds fans have grown frustrated with Farke’s perceived reluctance to change things until the 70th minute but there was no such reluctance at the Etihad. Jaka Bijol and Calvert-Lewin came on at half-time for Gnonto and James as the Whites switched to a back three with wing-backs and their two physical strikers upfront together.
And it worked. Calvert-Lewin caused endless problems for a City defence who looked utterly rattled at the prospect of long balls and running in behind. The substitute scored after a couple of minutes and then won a penalty, the rebound of which Nmecha scored from. Farke’s changes certainly improved things for Leeds, although there is a point to be made he could have deployed that second-half approach from the start.
Premier League survival blueprint on show
Those half-time changes, in personnel and approach, brought the best out of Leeds and offered an insight into how they can survive as a Premier League outfit. They dragged City into a scrap through the use of long balls, set-plays and aggressive defending which went some way to levelling the playing field.
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Yes, City adapted to get a foothold back in the game but they were rattled to the point of goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma conveniently going down injured so Guardiola could gather his players for an emergency team talk. The difference in performance between either half is exactly why teams like Leeds should be going more direct against superior opponents.
Leeds United fans make themselves heard
Those in the away end must have headed down to the concourse at half-time wondering just how bad it could get but came within minutes of celebrating a brilliant comeback and hard-earned point. There was open dissent inside Elland Road last weekend but at the Etihad, the 3,000 or so travelling fans were loud, raucous and overwhelmingly supportive of their side’s efforts.
The away fans made themselves heard in a positive way and serenaded the squad with a rendition of ‘Marching on Together’ after full-time, frustrated by the late defeat but proud of the fight shown. Leeds might be struggling at the minute but contrary to the popular opposition jibe, they are certainly not falling apart.
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