Leeds United were held to an uninspiring 0-0 draw at home to Brentford on Saturday night.
Daniel Farke prescribed six-to-eight more points on the board in order for Leeds to stay in the Premier League.
With eight games remaining when he said that, a point per game would be enough, in his eyes.
Leeds United 0-0 Brentford: A bore draw for the ages at Elland Road
After being dealt a cruel blow at Crystal Palace, Leeds were essentially forced to be happy with a 0-0 draw.
At home to Brentford, though, Leeds really ought to have gone for the kill. Instead, it was a game devoid of any real risk-taking from either side and the 0-0 scoreline showed it.
When Tim Sherwood said recently that teams should get zero points for a 0-0 draw, this is what he meant. Neither team looked really bothered to find a winner, as Farke took around 70 minutes again to call upon his bench. It took until minute 83 for him to shake up what had looked a stagnant attacking shape for weeks, by introducing Dan James.
In the end, a goalless draw was only ever going to be the final outcome. Leeds lacked any spark to break down another side coming to Elland Road offering the square root of zilch.
Henry Winter responds to Leeds United’s latest fake goalkeeper injury controversy
Every time a team comes to Elland Road at the moment, there’s a sudden goalkeeper injury while Leeds are building pressure.
Melker Ellborg miraculously recovered from a setback for Sunderland as soon as Regis Le Bris got his team talk completed. Now, Caoimhin Kelleher joined the growing list of what those inside Elland Road have quickly branded ‘cheating’.
Moments after Leeds made our double sub just before the 70-minute mark, Kelleher was told by a teammate to hit the deck. Leeds were ready to continue, Ethan Ampadu sprinted to powerless referee Jarred Gillet clearly saying what all of the stadium was thinking.
As a result, Andrews got a chance to have a quick discussion with his players, obviously responding to United’s two substitutions.
Journalist Henry Winter has since noted that IFAB have been in discussion over a rule change to stop goalkeepers faking injury in order to allow a tactical pause in play.
Tactical time-outs an increasing problem in football. A few PL clubs do it. Even England have done it. Caoimhin Kelleher may have genuinely been injured – he was able to play on – but Leeds United’s frustration at the disruption was understandable. They were building, had brought… pic.twitter.com/HYK6Wfvoux
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) March 22, 2026
Of course, when outfielders ‘require’ treatment, they’re forced off the pitch for 30 seconds. But, the loophole is that goalkeepers currently aren’t required to go off the pitch.
Winter notes it’s been suggested that a nominated outfielder could go off for half a minute if a ‘keeper does this.
Shocking Elland Road performance from Leeds United – Goalkeeper controversy the only major talking point
The fact this is the main talking point from the actual match itself says everything.
It’s a joke that the law-makers haven’t found a way to close this obvious and horrific loophole. Every team (except Leeds it seems) is basically getting two ‘time-outs’ a game.
Jordan Henderson went down in the first-half with a supposed injury, and the same thing happened then. Leeds, thankfully, saw fit to also have a quick chat with Farke during as well.
It’s fast becoming a farce that teams can just fake an injury and make tactical tweaks as a result. This season has really shown the incredibly ugly side of football.
That said, I’m of course worried about Leeds’ performances at the moment, but that’s a conversation for later today.
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