Two other Leeds United figures have spoken about the unexpected change
Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
14:27, 23 Mar 2026
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
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Dominic Calvert-Lewin was left isolated for large periods(Image: Oli SCARFF / AFP via Getty Images)
Daniel Farke says Brentford's unexpected pre-match change was a contributing factor in Leeds United’s inability to find the net on Saturday, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin left ‘frustrated’ at full-time.
Brentford had not deployed a back five since early December when taking on Arsenal but went man-for-man across the pitch at Elland Road and left their hosts goalless for the fourth straight Premier League game.
Speaking afterwards, goalkeeper Karl Darlow - who recorded back-to-back Premier League clean sheets for the first time since January 2018 - said the Bees’ switch to a back-five was a “little bit” of a talking point in the dressing room.
“I think again, it shows the respect that they're showing us,” he told reporters. “I think coming to Elland Road was going to be a tough game, and they've adapted to a five at the back.
“Probably first half, we weren't as effective as we wanted to be, but I'd say second half, the last 20/30 minutes, there was only one team that looked like scoring. So I think we have to take confidence from what we've done tonight again.”
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That said, Calvert-Lewin endured another tough evening. He managed to muster just one shot at goal, which came from a chance that had 0.14 xG anyway. Constantly crowded out, he completed just seven of his 12 passes.
“It was frustrating at times and difficult to find space but not every game you are going to be cutting teams open,” Calvert-Lewin admitted.
“It came as a little bit of a surprise that they added an extra centre-half into the team, so we had to adapt to that and it was kind of man-for-man really.”
He added: “We were pushing at the end, crashing balls into the box and they came with a game plan. Three big centre-halves to basically defend that whole game and I thought they did it well.”
Farke echoed those sentiments in his post-match press conference, paying testament to Brentford who “had really, really a good defence of the area”.
He explained that he had prepared for Keith Andrews to set up with both a back four and a back five but was surprised it turned out to be the latter that was fielded.
Fakre said: “We especially prepared for the first game against them for a three and four-man, which we knew that they could play today. We expected, a bit more, four-man because since mid of December they have [made] no change.
“And we were thinking, OK, they are also chasing for Europe and have to win, and want to bring all their in form offensive players on the pitch.
“I think it was also a bit of a sign of respect that they've shown today in order to change our base formation a bit. We took this as a positive sign but it was still difficult to create against them.”
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