Good Morning. It's Monday 21st September, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Stalemate as Eagles hold Leeds to goalless draw
Leeds stretched their unbeaten Premier League start to five games but were held to a frustrating goalless draw by Crystal Palace in a tense, often attritional contest at Elland Road on Sunday lunchtime. Daniel Farke’s side sit fifth heading into the international break, while Pierre Sage’s visitors claimed a first clean sheet of the season and a valuable point after a difficult opening month. A first half of limited quality and few clear chances gave way to a livelier second period in which Palace created slightly the better opportunities. Yéremy Pino’s free-kick was pushed away by James Trafford shortly after the restart, Daichi Kamada fired narrowly wide, and Tyrick Mitchell thought he had given the Eagles the lead only for VAR to rule Anan Khalaili offside in the build-up.Leeds’ best moment arrived when Dominic Calvert-Lewin met James Justin’s cross from close range, only for Walter Benítez to produce an excellent save. Ethan Ampadu’s long throws caused Palace problems throughout, but the visitors’ defence, previously leaky, stood firm. Kamada’s late header drifted just wide as both sides settled for a point. Farke described mixed emotions afterwards, noting that not every game produces “champagne football.” Leeds have conceded just three goals in five matches and remain solid defensively, even if they looked blunt in attack compared with their midweek 4-1 win over Newcastle. Palace, who had shipped 11 goals in their first four league games, will take greater satisfaction from the organisation and threat they showed after a midweek European fixture.
The result keeps Leeds unbeaten (two wins, three draws) for the first time at this stage of a Premier League season since 2001-02. Palace climb to 15th. Farke now has three weeks to refine his side before they travel to the Emirates on 10 October, traditionally not a happy hunting ground for the Whites. The last time Leeds took three points against Arsenal, Arsène Wenger was in charge and they were playing at Highbury. Mark Viduka’s hat-trick that day played a major part in securing top-flight survival in 2002-03.
“Not every Sunday can be champagne football” after Leeds held by Palace
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke admitted his side had to “dig in” after a scruffy 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace at Elland Road left them unbeaten but frustrated after five Premier League games. The result kept Leeds fifth with nine points (two wins, three draws) heading into the international break. It followed last Monday’s 4-1 demolition of Newcastle and ended a run of more expansive performances. Palace, who had conceded 11 goals in their first four league matches, produced a much tighter display and created several late chances. Farke was clear it was not the night supporters had hoped for after the midweek fireworks.“You can’t expect to have 38 games of magical nights under the lights when you always overrun your opponents,” he told BBC Match of the Day.“We faced a difficult Crystal Palace side and it was not our best game and a bit scruffy at the end.“ But the team had to fight and dig in and it was defensively excellent so I’m happy with that.” Dominic Calvert-Lewin had Leeds’ clearest opening in the second half but was denied by Walter Benítez. Farke said he would have taken “a dirty one-nil” but was satisfied with another clean sheet.“In the last 30 minutes it was a bit of a basketball game and I’m happy with how we handled their counter attacks. A clean sheet, a draw, so we have to accept it.”He added: “We have heart, spirit and tactically we can adapt. We have strong unity in the dressing room. After an intense opening [to the season] it’s important we have a bit of time to recover.”
Speaking to Sky Sports, Farke said Leeds had been “a bit too loose with the ball” and in the final third. He praised the first hour of defending but acknowledged Palace could have nicked it late on. “You’re always just 100 per cent happy once you win the game, and of course we wanted after our nearly perfect start to win this home game. Football-wise it was not our best performance, but we also played against a well-structured side.“It was one of those days when you don’t have your best performance-wise, but then you have to dig in and fight. It was also important to keep the clean sheet and extend the unbeaten run, and for that we take this point.”
In his press conference he struck a similar note of realism. “It’s not 38 game days of magic nights under the floodlights, champagne football, where you overrun the opponent and you score goals for fun. Sometimes it’s also a scruffy Sunday afternoon when you have to dig in.” He described mixed emotions: the players were disappointed they had not gone third, but the manager pointed to nine points from five matches as a solid foundation before a demanding run of fixtures after the break, including a trip to the Emirates before the Manchester Utd game on the 18th October
