Leeds United have dropped several points late in Premier League games.
Leeds United defender James Justin doesn’t see a ‘glaring’ issue behind the concession of late goals, pointing instead to the ruthless nature of Premier League football.
Justin impressed again last weekend as Leeds drew 1-1 to take a brilliant point from Champions League-chasing Aston Villa. There was a tinge of disappointment at full-time, however, with substitute Tammy Abraham cancelling out Anton Stach’s long-range free-kick in the 88th minute.
“I think on paper, when you saw the game and the position they [Villa] are sitting in, it was a difficult game going into it and obviously we were hoping to get a positive result,” Justin told BBC Radio Leeds. “To play the way we did in the first half was really positive for us and to go a goal up as well through that free kick, it was a great first half.
“Then in the second half, we had to dig in and come together, really. We did so well up until the end of the game, which obviously we know we need to address and work on in the upcoming weeks, to hold on to leads a bit better. But I don't think there's any one thing that's glaring that we're doing wrong. It’s just that sometimes the Premier League is ruthless.”
Dominic Calvert-Lewin weighs in on Leeds United late concessions
After the disappointment of conceding late it’s sometimes easy to point the finger and forget there are two teams playing, and on Saturday one of them was at Champions League-level. Leeds kept Villa’s starting attackers quiet but with Leon Bailey and Emi Buendia struggling, Unai Emery made changes.
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He was able to bring on Jadon Sancho and Ross Barkley, both of whom helped swing momentum Villa’s way, while fellow substitute Abraham eventually scored the leveller. And Justin’s teammate, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, highlighted that quality off the bench as a potential reason behind Leeds’ late concessions.
“The big clubs have very good squad depth, you've got international players coming off the bench and affecting games,” Calvert-Lewin added. “I think there's been moments in games where we're on top, and then teams make a change and the subs do what they're expected to do, come on and change the game.
“We've had frustrating moments like JJ said, it's not a case of us kind of putting a foot wrong. I just think the Premier League is the most competitive and ruthless league in the world. So one lapse in concentration can get punished, and that's arguably what's happened to us a couple of times. But against good opposition as well.”
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