Leeds United’s form since returning from the international break looks to have cost them automatic promotion.
The Whites head into tomorrow’s final day needing a miracle to finish in the top two, with Ipswich Town sat three points clear and very much in the driving seat.
Ipswich now just need to avoid defeat at home to all but relegated Huddersfield Town in order to beat Leeds to second place, and so the focus now looks as though it will have to be on the play-offs.
Former manager Martin O’Neill believes Daniel Farke has a big job on his hands to pick his side back up for the play-offs, considering how close Leeds have come to automatic promotion.
Leeds sat top of the table heading into the March international break after a run of 12 wins from 13 matches, conceding just three goals.
However, since the resumption of the season, Leeds have picked up just eight points in as many matches, with their defensive record having fallen apart by shipping 13.
Hay shares Farke decisions which have cost Leeds top two
It is difficult to pinpoint exactly why Leeds’ form has dropped so considerably since the international break, though it would be fair to say some of Farke’s decisions have been questionable.
Of course, during a 46-game season there are moments throughout which turn out to be costly, but they always become more heightened during the business end of the campaign.
Farke had seemingly found a settled starting XI during that formidable run of form in the first three months of the calendar year, but for whatever reason has gone away from that recently.
Speaking on the latest episode of the Square Ball Podcast, Athletic journalist Phil Hay says there are three decisions which Farke has made which he believes are now looking costly.
He said: “There are three things in my head which sort of stick out since the international break finished, definitely that call with Ampadu and Rodon. Piroe up front against QPR, and not because I didn’t understand it against Blackburn.
“With Bamford out, or the need to change it that day, I understand why he went for Piroe but I felt having seen it not work against Blackburn, as it clearly didn’t, I felt it was a bit of a gamble at QPR.
“I know the alternative was Joseph because Bamford wasn’t fit but it almost seemed like one of those nights to roll the dice. And I do think over the last month the question about how Farke changes games, in-game, using his bench, has become more pertinent.”
Farke has surely learnt his lessons in Leeds run-in
Going into the play-offs, Farke simply cannot afford to repeat these same mistakes again or Leeds are likely to face more disappointment.
It is clear to everybody that Piroe just does not work as a lone striker, with his dire performance at QPR and lack of impact against Blackburn clear examples of that.
Bamford is clearly his first choice number nine now but if he isn’t fit, like potentially tomorrow, Mateo Joseph is the only like-for-like replacement he has.
It would be nice to see Farke be more proactive with his changes, too. To not make any at half-time last week when Leeds had been so poor was baffling.
