Sitting in at Elland Road with visiting sides and trying to annoy the hosts is not unusual at all. It’s their prerogative and very much fact rather than fantasy. In the end, what matters is how you handle it.
This vanilla reverse had some mitigating elements, and Daniel Farke was understandably quick to highlight a number of them.
While it felt nice, his post-match claim that Leeds were “dominant” and that nobody in the locker room could explain why they didn’t win
The mitigation comes first. There were thirteen Leeds players on the list of those called up by their respective nations during the international break. There was little time for preparation at Thorp Arch before Burnley’s visit, and it wasn’t ideal to take against a Clarets-like side and squad just after the break.
Farke’s team also lost the day’s major penalty call and squandered two enormous first-half opportunities, one of which came in the first minute.
Yes, things may have turned out differently. Ultimately, though, Leeds lacked the attacking flair, rhythm, intensity, and conviction to always pose a threat to Burnley.
The second half was a little unnerving and somewhat muted. The players wearing visiting jerseys remained steadfast in the back, but they were undoubtedly in greater comfort than they had anticipated. The play was sporadic, benefiting Burnley and impeding Leeds.
Leeds did experience some scary moments during the play, but they were isolated, and the home crowd had nothing substantial to root for. Like their side’s performance, the atmosphere was mainly lackluster.
Given the early part of the season, evaluating Leeds and Burnley’s positions is a difficult undertaking. Decisions would have been simpler if this match had taken place, say, in November or December. September is all about making a plan.
Burnley was one. Although the first goal was always going to be important, Scott Parker saw his new-look team take the lead and then display a level of grit, organization, and game intelligence that bodes well. Parker is aware that the Clarets are still in the early stages of their own development under him. Take us apart, they all uttered.
Burnley wasn’t great, but it didn’t have to be. In the world after Gray, Summerville, and Rutter, Leeds is still a work in progress, and relationships take time to develop.
In truth, though, Burnley is in the similar boat, with well over ten new players joining them after 21 players left in the summer.
Eighteen minutes in, Manor Solomon of Leeds made the most significant contribution from a newcomer—and it was an unexpected one.
After a Leeds corner, he stumbled, allowing Luca Koleosho to run ahead. Burnley took advantage of the two-versus-one position, with Jayden Bogle frantically attempting to man the barricades. The hosts were left with their pants around their ankles.
Following a 70-yard sprint down the right, Pascal Struijk, Joe Rodon, and Bogle were all following behind as Koleosho finished with precision, finishing in no man’s land.
What followed and preceded that objective was instructive.
Mateo Joseph took advantage of a mistake made by Maxime Esteve to score in the first minute. Joseph squinted and saw the whites of goalkeeper James Trafford’s eyes. He missed an attractive goal with his shot. Even thus early in the season, serious teams take advantage of these opportunities.
Leeds did manage to find Trafford in the way of their attempts on goal, demonstrating why he was picked up to the senior England squad earlier this year.
Brenden Aaronson’s one assignment out of the “ten” was enjoyable. Koleosho played in Wilfried Gnonto shortly after his goal, but Trafford remained large and blocked.
Next, the hypothesis. Joe Worrall made a desperate challenge from behind, and Solomon fell into the box. The Leeds loanee was touched by the Clarets defender in addition to receiving a portion of the ball. James Bell, the referee, was unmoved. The expression is “seen them given.”
In the second half, Trafford denied Ethan Ampadu with a crucial tip-over and a perfect soaring one-handed save to deflect Joseph’s curler.
Leeds didn’t contribute much more. Burnley, who witnessed Bashir Humphreys fired at the end, didn’t have to, but they also didn’t have to. That was the main idea.
Leeds United: Meslier; Aaronson (Piroe 68), Solomon (Ramazani 78), Bogle, Rodon (Tanaka 86), Struijk, Firpo (Byram 78); Gruev, Ampadu (Rothwell 68); Joseph. Unused substitutes: Debayo, Schmidt, Gelhardt, and Darlow.
Burnley: Anthony; Flemming (Hountondji 92); Koleosho (Sarmiento 64), Hannibal (Cullen 73), Anthony; Humphreys, Worrall, Esteve, Pires; Laurent, Brownhill (Massengo 92). Unused substitutes: Rodriguez, Egan, Agyei, Hladky, and Egan-Riley.
