Leeds lost ground with the Championship pacesetters after an inexcusably poor performance at strugglers Stoke City.

Leeds just couldn't find their rhythm, and produced some of the most shocking football seen in a long time. Stoke weren't much better, but at least put a shift in. They lacked creativeness, confidence and composure, all the trademarks of a struggling Championship outfit, yet Leeds made them look like Barcelona. Neither team looked like scoring, that is, until ten minutes from the end, when Leeds skipper Pascal Struijk nodded the ball into his own net from two yards, after bouncing awkwardly off the cross bar.

Five minutes earlier, Leeds should have put the game to bed, after Bamford, was clumsily bundled over in the penalty box. The ref had no choice, but to point to the spot. Whether it was a good idea to allow a player, who had only just stepped onto the pitch to take a penalty never entered the players minds. Before it could be debated, Bamford had already skied his first touch, almost of the stadium!

There are undiscovered indigenous tribes from deep within the Amazon rain forest that could have put on a better spectacle. The vague hope that the game could only improve as the match progressed, forced many to endure the torment, with the expectancy that things could only get better - little did we know!

	Line Up		Nat	Match Events
	1	Meslier, Illan Goalkeeper
	22	Gray, Archie Midfielder
	25	Byram, Sam Defender
	21	Struijk, Pascal Defender
	14	Rodon, Joe Defender
	4	Ampadu, Ethan Midfielder
	44	Gruev, Ilia Midfielder
	12	Anthony, Jaidon Midfielder
	29	Gnonto, Wilfried Midfielder
	7	Piroe, Joel Forward
	24	Rutter, Georginio Forward
	Subs		Nat	Match Events
	10	Summerville, Crysencio Midfielder
	9	Bamford, Patrick Forward
	20	James, Daniel Midfielder
	27	Poveda, Ian Midfielder
	2	Ayling, Luke Defender
	26	Darlow, Karl Goalkeeper		Unused Sub
	17	Shackleton, Jamie Midfielder		Unused Sub
	6	Cooper, Liam Defender		Unused Sub
	8	Kamara, Glen Midfielder		Unused Sub

	References
	LEEDSTATS: Leeds United Season 2023/2024
	Sheridan Dictates: Season Statistics 2023-24
	Leeds United Programme Guide: Season 2023/24