Tom Coates
By Tom Coates
Search, Trends and Live Sport Specialist
Published22nd Mar 2026, 17:00 GMT
It had the hallmarks of a corker. A relegation-threatened side against a team eyeing European football under the Saturday night lights of the Elland Road cauldron? Sign me up for that £20 a month and upgrade my broadband while you’re at it.
Instead, one can only imagine neutrals were flicking over to Saturday Night Live UK or checking how Ekin-Su was doing on The Wheel.
Brentford reverted to a back five, ensuring the box was densely populated enough to render Leeds deliveries ineffective.
Daniel Farke is looking to keep Leeds United in the Premier League.placeholder image
Daniel Farke is looking to keep Leeds United in the Premier League. | Matt McNulty/Getty Images
"Brentford are not just an established Premier League side, but a side sitting in position seven and fighting for Europe,” said Whites boss Daniel Farke. “You could see they were rock solid at the back - really, really good defensively.
"I think it's the first sight in a while [a team] could handle our physicality here in a home game.
"They even adapted their base formation - [it was the] first time since they played Man City and Arsenal they changed back to a back three in order to have good solutions in terms of defending. They defended really well.”
Attacking shortcomings
Some innoviation was required to unlock the Brentford door and Leeds simply could not muster any. In the absence of precision was a ponderous nature, with attacks hopeful rather than carefully orchestrated.
Passing from midfielders was not punchy or penetrative and Gabriel Gudmundsson was sorely missed as he sat out with a suspension.
Farke wanted to isolate the performance as the context of Leeds’ barren run was applied to the situation.
Leeds United’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin was isolated up front.placeholder image
Leeds United’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin was isolated up front. | Matt McNulty/Getty Images
He felt it needed to be assessed on an individual basis as the fact his side have not scored a league goal in open play since February 10 was highlighted.
That is difficult for fans to do as they begin to fear Leeds are circling the drain.
"We don't have - at this level - unbelievable individual quality, who with creative play up front can create chance after chance,” said Farke. “We scored, for promotion, many, many goals. Not the last three or four games, you have to say. But sometimes it is such a period.”
Looking for a solution
Farke’s critics would argue he can be risk-averse and his supporters would contest he always does his utmost to manage risks. The truth is perhaps somewhere in the middle.
Nmecha was not playing as an out-and-out strike partner for Calvert-Lewin but Leeds did have two physical outlets at the top end of the pitch.
The dice was rolled in that respect but their presence on the pitch felt wasted by inability to provide quality service.
When previously asked about the pair being played together, Farke said “one death, you have to die”. He was referring to the trade-off, the defensive solidity you somewhat compromise by loading up the attack.
The balance is a delicate one to strike but as Leeds’ fruitless search for a breakthrough continued, it was apparent the right poison had not been picked. Naturally, questions are asked.
Leeds United could not force a breakthrough against Brentford.placeholder image
Leeds United could not force a breakthrough against Brentford. | Richard Sellers/PA Wire
Is it a system issue? Is it personnel? What is keeping Wilfried Gnonto and his undeniably excellent crossing ability out of the side?
Farke has to find a way to make Leeds harder to handle in the final third without opening the floodgates at the back.
"We wanted to win this game,” he said. “But it was also important not to do something stupid and lose this game, to run into counter-attack after counter-attack. This is what we've done.
"It was not enough to score goals but over the course of the season, I think we've proved we have goals in us. I'm pretty sure if we keep going like this, we score enough goals in the upcoming games.
“A relegation battle is a relegation battle. It's not like an easy cruise to the promised land. I expected a tough season and we have to fight until the end to keep our chances. "
Leeds United: Darlow, Rodon, Bijol, Struijk (James 83); Bogle, Ampadu, Stach, Justin; Aaronson (Tanaka 68), Nmecha (Okafor 69); Calvert-Lewin.
Unused substitutes: Perri, Bornauw, Longstaff, Gruev, Piroe, Gnonto.
Brentford: Kelleher, van den Berg, Pinnock, Collins; Kayode, Jensen, Henderson, Lewis-Potter; Yarmoliuk, Thiago, Schade (Ouattara 77).
Unused substitutes: Valdimarrson, Stephenson, Shield, McManus, Bentt, Donovan, Nelson, Furo.
Referee: Jarred Gillett (Australia)