Leeds United’s faltering automatic promotion bid continued last night with a 0-0 draw against Sunderland.
The Whites once again missed the chance to go top of the table amid Leicester City’s 1-0 defeat at Millwall, as another lacklustre performance could only conjure up a single point.
Daniel Farke’s side can feel aggrieved to at least two penalty decisions which did not go their way, but ultimately must look at themselves after registering just one tame shot on target across 90 minutes.
Since the international break Leeds have looked a shadow of the side that put together such an impressive run from the turn of the New Year, picking up just five points in four matches.
The only player who has really looked like creating anything over the last couple of weeks is Crysencio Summerville, but when he is not quite on it, Leeds are extremely toothless.
Farke made two decisions last night which really hurt Leeds’ chances of promotion
Leeds suffered their first defeat of 2024 on Saturday at Coventry City but it was certainly a result that had been coming based on the two prior performances.
Clearly Farke had been a little hamstrung with the options at his disposal in those matches due to key injuries for Willy Gnonto, Connor Roberts and Ilia Gruev, but that was not the case last night.
Despite a tired display at the weekend and a short turnaround, Farke opted to name an unchanged side last night, which is a decision that well and truly backfired.
The same players who were guilty of playing poorly on Saturday were no better against Sunderland, with Dan James, Glen Kamara, Patrick Bamford and Georginio Rutter among them.
But even after naming an unchanged side, it was clear for a while it wasn’t working and Farke then opted to take an absolute age to use his bench, which is one of the strongest in the league.
After promising cameos on Saturday, Mateo Joseph and Joel Piroe both got just seven minutes to make an impact last night, which was just far too late considering those they replaced were doing nothing.
In matches like Sunderland, Farke has to be far more proactive in using his bench and recognising when something is not working. It cost Leeds dearly last night.
Farke admits Leeds far too reliant on Summerville
With three quarters of Leeds’ four-man attack badly out of form, yesterday’s tactics were effectively give it to Summerville and pray. It has been for four matches now.
Farke admitted in his post-match press conference Leeds were over reliant on Summerville down the left with their attacks, which just makes his lack of subs even more baffling.
Joseph and Gnonto are the ones who have been in form on the pitch lately, and though the latter is coming back from injury, they have to be used more.
On Summerville, Farke said: “Had that tendency against Coventry. Summerville is outstanding in his numbers and we do force it over that way. Too concentrated on this side.
“When you have a key player like him it’s natural to find him. When you see how we share the goals and assists, we are not addicted to one side or player.”