Leeds United’s poor run of form since the international break continued last night with a 0-0 draw against Sunderland.
Amid Leicester City’s defeat at Millwall, Leeds once again missed the opportunity to move top of the Championship with another lacklustre display.
Leeds can feel hard done by at the decision not to be awarded at least one penalty on the night, but the performance should undoubtedly be Daniel Farke’s biggest concern.
The only shot on target across 90 minutes came courtesy of a tame Joe Rodon header in the second half, with mindless, slow side-to-side passing no where near enough to break Sunderland down.
Farke admitted after the game Leeds have been far too over reliant on Crysencio Summerville to create something recently, but that is on him to drop the players who are out of form.
Goodman says ‘unplayable’ Leeds quartet Rutter, James, Bamford and Summerville have lost form
Prior to the international break, Leeds had both Willy Gnonto and Patrick Bamford scoring goals, Georginio Rutter providing assists, and Summerville causing havoc down the left.
Since returning, however, Bamford has completely lost all of his confidence, Rutter is clearly struggling after surgery and Dan James has been unable to fill the void left by Gnonto amid his recovery from injury.
Summerville has been the only one looking likely to create anything, but with such an over reliance on him recently, even he has struggled in the last two matches.
Speaking on Sky Sports after last night’s draw with Sunderland, Don Goodmam believes Leeds’ front four have looked a shadow of their former selves recently.
He said: “It is noticeable that there has been a drop off, particularly in intensity. Leeds United before the international break were over running, over powering teams. Those front four were unplayable. I haven’t seen that since after the international break.
“Watford, they scratch a draw, Hull for long spells had too much of the ball and then they go and lose to Coventry and tonight couldn’t break a very resilient Sunderland side down.”
Farke now simply has to change vs Blackburn
This is now four matches in a row Farke has gone with the same front four and on each occasion, it just has not worked.
Against Watford, Leeds relied on a moment of genius from Summerville to get back in the game before a late flurry of changes helped save a point late on.
Again at home to Hull City, it took Summerville to take the game by the scruff of its neck and win a penalty, but it is not going to happen for him every game.
And that has unfortunately been the case in the last two matches. Summerville has been below par, but no one around him has been able to step up, and Farke now has to make changes for Saturday’s game.