The YEP's Leeds United jury have their say on Saturday's 0-0 draw with Brentford.
A poignant night inside Elland Road was marked by tributes to Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight, almost 26 years on from their murders in Istanbul. Here’s the YEP Leeds United jury’s take on those emotional scenes and the match itself...
KEITH INGHAM
Another opportunity to get a much-needed win wasn’t taken as Leeds produced a below-par performance to only get a point from a disappointing goalless draw with Brentford. Daniel Farke only made one change with James Justin coming in at left-back for the suspended Gabi Gudmundsson.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha kept their places in a two up top. Most fans were happy with the line up. A very poor first half brought a headed half chance for Calvert-Lewin but even though he beat the Brentford keeper, the ball was cleared by the defence. Nmecha had a shot that was straight at Caoimhin Kelleher.
The one thing that stood out was the tribute to Chris and Kevin before the kick off and on 26 minutes. They will never be forgotten. The second half was slightly better. Ethan Ampadu had a shot that went straight to Kelleher, substitute Noah Okafor did the same and another substitute Ao Tanaka had a shot that was deflected and could have gone anywhere but it went well wide.
Man of the match: Anton Stach.
DAVID WATKINS
Another opportunity missed, or a good point won? It’s hard to know at this stage, but it’s another home game that was on our list of winnable fixtures, and we didn’t win it. It really is starting to look like we’ll still be in this dog fight when we take the trips to Spurs and then West Ham, by which time nails will be bitten to the quick and nerves will be shredded!
Daniel Farke made much of another clean sheet in his post-match comments, but it’s the other end that most fans are worried about - no Premier League goal scored in our last four games, and we never looked like scoring in this one. Leeds shaded the possession and goal attempts against the Bees, but never looked likely to break the deadlock, and we sorely missed the driving runs down the left flank from Gabi Gudmundsson.
Neither side registered a single big chance all game, and Brentford were the latest side to come to Elland Road, trying to keep the ball in play time to a bare minimum, going down at every opportunity and wasting time whenever the opportunity arose. These tactics are wringing all the entertainment out of the beautiful game.
Man of the match: Ethan Ampadu.
ANDY RHODES
With several reporters calling this a dreadful game, this week’s Jury will have found it equally tough to pick the bones out of. Both Leeds and Brentford looked like sides incapable of scoring in the entire month let alone this game.
In fact, the Whites could still be playing now, hitting hopeless crosses into the Bees’ box. Leeds might not have been scoring recently – this makes four league games on the spin – but they have been defensively solid in those four, conceding just twice against some opponents.
However, Leeds are losing form at the wrong time. In previous draws, they were playing well without converting their chances. Now, they aren’t creating the chances.
The Brentford and Sunderland games at home saw Leeds create little of note. Perhaps with Noah Okafor back, they can find a way through teams, but the next league game, away at Manchester United, will be a real test.
Man of the match: Ethan Ampadu.
NEIL GREWER
Once again Leeds dominated the stats, but goals - not stats - win games, and after 15 minutes when Leeds had settled after a good start from Brentford, this encounter had 0-0 written all over it. And so it transpired. Why Sky choose Leeds v Brentford games astounds me as they are inevitably dour and dominated by long throws and set pieces.
The insipid first 45 minutes saw one speculative Lukas Nmecha effort on target. The second 45 improved and Leeds were the better, more adventurous side, but Brentford’s game plan worked perfectly with a strong and well-organised back five having to work hard but always looking capable of keeping a clean sheet.
Daniel Farke shuffled his pack. Nmecha and Dominic Calvert-Lewin up front, although not as a central force together, was not working, so belatedly Farke introduced wingers in Dan James and Noah Okafor but both were unable to turn possession into chances.
Brentford had everything under control and another poor inconsistent refereeing display helped their cause and once again we had the annoying ‘injured’ goalkeeper scenario. Another point and clean sheet, were the only positives.
Man of the match: Anton Stach.
MIKE GILL
Leeds picked up another valuable point but it goes without saying that three would have been better. Both sides trod a narrow path and largely cancelled each other out. It was fine for defensive tacticians and chess enthusiasts but for football fans it was a turgid and boring non event.
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Sometimes that’s how it is and you have to get your microscope out and look for the positives. This was a very good defensive performance and Brentford’s in-form striker Igor Thiago was limited to one off-target shot. United’s three central defenders hardly put a foot wrong and the deployment of Jayden Bogle as wing back worked occasionally.
James Justin looked less comfortable on the left but Brentford never exploited this. The late introduction of Dan James added width and with it attacking threat and a bit of late drama for the frustrated fans.
Such are the fine margins in this competition that a single goal in this final period would have been rapturously received. But it wasn’t to be and we must accept that this relegation struggle will be a fight to the death.
Man of the match: Ethan Ampadu.
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