Leeds United may be sat third in the Championship, but there is certainly an Achilles heal in which they have struggled with most of the season.
Whenever Leeds have come up against a side happy to camp on the edge of their own box and defend deep, there have been too many occasions where they have not had the answers.
With 16, Leeds have actually scored the most amount of goals in the first 15 minutes of matches this season, according to soccerstats. However, when they are unable to find the early breakthrough, is when problems arise.
Leeds’ last two matches at home to Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers have been key examples of that. Failure to score against the latter actually culminated in the Whites’ first defeat at Elland Road this term.
Daniel Farke’s side have often relied on moments of individual brilliance from their vast array of attacking talents to win matches. However, when that does not arrive, Leeds do not have much in the way of patterns of play, or a threat from set-pieces.
Farke even admitted himself after the defeat at Coventry City earlier this month that Leeds’ only way of creating something was by giving the ball to Crysencio Summerville.
Unfortunately, Leeds’ attacking players such as Georginio Rutter and Summerville have lost form recently, which is what has led to a slump in results.
The reason why Leeds struggle to break down defensive teams
Particularly over the last couple of matches, but also during the season as a whole, Leeds’ style has been based around slow, possession-based football.
According to Sofa Score, only Southampton and Leicester average more ball possession than Leeds in the Championship this season.
Given the quality of players Leeds have, it is no surprise to see them near the top of that statistic, but sometimes, there needs to be a greater variation in their play.
Too often over the last few weeks Leeds have been happy to keep the ball among themselves, passing it sideways and backwards, making it easy to defend.
Often during matches at Elland Road, even with the almost imperious home form, fans are heard demanding the players to look wide through incisive switches of play to either wingers or full-backs, yet rarely does it happen.
And a statistic which proves this is that Leeds actually rank 23rd in the division for the most accurate long balls per game this season with 14.2, as per Sofa Score. Only Rotherham United are worse.
If Leeds were perhaps to attempt more of these, opposition defences may be more likely to be pulled out of position, thus opening up space on the field. Instead, the slow tempo of the play allows them to get back into shape.
Ipswich Town and Leicester City, on the contrary, are both actually in the top 10 for most accurate long balls in the Championship, despite also being two of the most possession-based styles.
