Leeds United will quickly need to put this afternoon’s defeat at Coventry City behind them.
Daniel Farke’s side were beaten for the first time in the league in 2024 by the Sky Blues after another below par performance since returning from the international break.
It took late goals against both Watford and Hull City in order to earn four points across the two matches, but unfortunately history could not repeat itself for a third time in a row.
Leeds had actually started well in today’s games but conceded a poor goal from a corner via Coventry’s dangerman Ellis Simms, before the lead was doubled by Haji Wright after the break.
Joel Piroe then gave Leeds hope with around 15 minutes to go but spurned Leeds’ golden chance to earn a point in stoppage time with a really poor finish from a one-on-one.
BBC pundit says Leeds youngster could be given his full league debut on Tuesday
Unfortunately, Leeds just had too many players below their best today, despite the fact it was the starting XI which has pretty much been the key to the run of form in 2024.
BBC pundit Jon Newsome believes Glen Kamara, Ilia Gruev, Patrick Bamford, Georginio Rutter and Crysencio Summerville were all off it, singling out the latter for his ‘poor’ body language.
Leeds have another short turnaround to Tuesday’s game with Sunderland and it is pretty clear some are falling victim to the busy schedule.
And speaking on BBC Radio Leeds after the match, Newsome believes Farke could make a number of changes in midweek, with Mateo Joseph’s full league debut being one of them.
He said: “I think there may well be a number of changes on Tuesday night. I think that could possibly be one of them [Roberts to right-back, Gray into midfield]. I would not be surprised if Patrick was on the bench and he gives Joseph a start. He’s the manager, that’s what he gets paid for.”
Farke now has to unleash Joseph from the start
Farke was quick to praise Bamford for his experience in his press conference earlier this week, but surely that can only go so far.
Bamford produced his third ineffective game in a row today and when he is not feeling confident, he is quite often a waste of time on the pitch, both in front of goal and in general play.
Joseph, on the other hand, once again looked really sharp when he was brought off the bench, playing a big role in Piroe giving Leeds some hope.
Supporters have clearly been warming more and more to what Joseph has been doing off the bench recently, and seeing him in the starting XI would give everyone inside Elland Road a boost on Tuesday.