Leeds United Boss Picks Out Main Issue With Performance During Goalless Draw

Today, Leeds United lost two points at home to Championship underdog Sheffield Wednesday, adding to the difficult start to the 2023–24 season.

Last Saturday, Daniel Farke’s team defeated Ipswich Town in a seven-goal thriller at Portman Road to record their first victory of the year. Georginio Rutter scored his first goal for the team during the match.

However, in midweek, the Yorkshire club suffered a further stutter, losing on penalties to League Two outfit Salford City and being eliminated from the second round of the EFL Cup.

Adding insult to injury, Leeds United’s clash with Sheffield Wednesday today at Elland Road ended goalless as Farke’s side failed to convert any of their 16 attempts at goal, accumulating an xG of 1.23 in the meantime.

The draw also meant that the Owls picked up their first point of the season, lifting them from the bottom and into 23rd place.

Speaking after the game, Farke rued his team’s inability to find the net despite creating numerous excellent goalscoring opportunities and dominating the game.

The German coach said [quotes via The Irish News]:

“We dominated the game and in the end, it’s just a draw. The overriding feeling is definitely disappointing.

“We expected an opponent who would sit deep, wasting time a little bit and breaking our rhythm.

“My players created more than enough to win this game. Normally it’s more than enough to win two or three games.”

“If you don’t find the first goal it’s difficult. We found it difficult to find the back of the net. Today we lacked the quality to bring the ball over the line and sadly this is crucial.”

Writer’s View

Leeds’ main issue this season has been keeping the ball out of their own net, having conceded seven goals in five games, so the problem was practically flipped on its head in the 0-0 tie with Sheffield Wednesday.

Nevertheless, there’s a strong possibility that this game was merely a blip as there is more than enough goalscoring prowess in this team with the likes of Wilfried Gnonto, Crysencio Summerville, Joel Piroe and Patrick Bamford when he returns to ensure that the goals don’t dry up.