1 - 1
Summerville
Rotherham United
Rotherham United
Leeds United
Leeds United
New York Stadium
11,471
Oliver Langford

Leeds missed out on the opportunity to close the gap on leaders Leicester City, after a disappointing (and somewhat pitiful) performance against struggling Rotherham.

The gulf of talent that separates the two sides is vast. If 'Whoscored' are to be believed, the Millers best player this season is Lee Peltier; a soon to be 37yo journeyman, judged no good enough for a struggling Leeds side almost a decade ago. Without the same kind of financial backing that their West Yorkshire neighbours enjoy, Rotherham have largely had to make do with freebies and loanees.

Leeds got off to the best possible start, after going ahead after just six minutes. Rutter sliced the hosts defence wide open with a sublime through ball, which Summerville dispatched in style; but, that's as good as it got all night!!!

Having conceded five to Watford in their previous outing, Rotherham were desperate to stop the floodgates from bursting; and in an attempt to stem the bleeding, parked the bus. For all Leeds superiority, they failed to hurt the Championships most fragile defence, and were duly punished in first half stoppage time, when Hakeem Odoffin levelled.

Leeds continued to push after the break, and can judge themselves unfortunate not to have won a penalty after James went down in the area. Similarly, Anthony had an effort ruled out for offside that looked incredibly close. At the other end, Cooper spared Leeds blushes after Nombe's effort had beaten Meslier at his near post, and would have won the game for the home side had it not been for his goal line clearance.

Line Up
Nat
Match Events
1
 Meslier, Illan
Goalkeeper
France
22
 Gray, Archie
Midfielder
England
14
 Rodon, Joe
Defender
Wales
6
 Cooper, Liam
Defender
Scotland
3
 Firpo, Junior
Defender
Dominican Republic
4
 Ampadu, Ethan
Midfielder
Wales
8
 Kamara, Glen
Midfielder
Finland
20
 James, Daniel
Midfielder
Wales
7
 Piroe, Joel
Forward
Netherlands
10
 Summerville, Crysencio
Midfielder
Netherlands
24
 Rutter, Georginio
Forward
France
Subs
Nat
Match Events
21
 Struijk, Pascal
Defender
Netherlands
29
 Gnonto, Wilfried
Midfielder
Italy
27
 Poveda, Ian
Midfielder
England
12
 Anthony, Jaidon
Midfielder
England
9
 Bamford, Patrick
Forward
England
2
 Ayling, Luke
Defender
England
 Unused Sub
25
 Byram, Sam
Defender
England
 Unused Sub
26
 Darlow, Karl
Goalkeeper
England
 Unused Sub
44
 Gruev, Ilia
Midfielder
Bulgaria
 Unused Sub
References
LEEDSTATS: Leeds United Season 2023/2024
Sheridan Dictates: Season Statistics 2023-24
Leeds United Programme Guide: Season 2023/24
Leeds United 2-1 Plymouth Argyle (11th Nov 2023)

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View all Showing latest 5 of 480 comments...

Kennyb41 wrote on 27 Nov 2023 09:21 pm

Junior Firpo is now a “massive, massive worry” at left-back for Leeds United after the 1-1 draw with Rotherham in his first start of the season, according to Adam Pope.

The BBC journalist said on Don’t Go To Bed Just Yet on 27 November that while there was plenty of blame to go around for the home side’s equaliser at the New York Stadium it was the former Barcelona man who was the biggest cause for concern.

Daniel Farke chose the 27-year-old ahead of Sam Byram due to an injury concern on the latter, in a changed back-line next to captain Liam Cooper who was himself in the side over Pascal Struijk after hernia surgery, and while Pope was filled with praise for the two centre-backs, as well as Joe Rodon and Archie Gray he is now feeling very uneasy over the picture on the left.

“I thought Cooper sets the tone with the first header of the game… I thought him and Rodon were great that way and he did everything he needed to do, Liam Cooper.

“He got a bit of cramp, probably still going to be okay, although Struijk came on which is amazing, it’s crazy isn’t it, outrageous.

“So they’ve done that, Rodon’s done his bit, Archie Gray did some phenomenal stuff in the game as well. And I know we can all point fingers for the goal but the one big area was left-back.

“So that’s a massive, massive worry for me that now, and I never thought it would be as much of a worry but that’s huge, in the sense that Byram had kind of sorted it out.

“I was in denial two years ago thinking they don’t need to sign anyone. If Byram’s fit that’s great, that’s fine, but wow.”

Nothing new

Firpo is an easy target because he has clearly been a disappointment in his Leeds United career since arriving from the Camp Nou three summers ago.

But it is perhaps harsh to pin the dropped points on him when he was making only his second appearance of the whole campaign after a long injury lay-off and he has been tipped to do well at this level compared after being “found out” the Premier League.

And it is also not a surprise when his struggles over the past couple of years showed the Whites have needed an answer at left-back for some time and regularly neglected to find one.

Max Wober was briefly used there but was primarily a centre-back, and even Byram’s emergence as the regular starter was a surprise of sorts given he was nominally a right-sided player when he returned for free in the summer.

The former Norwich City man has been a high-value addition but was always a risk if he was expected to be available for every game given his fitness record ever since he left Elland Road the first time.

His 16 appearances so far is already more than many expected but even if he misses one or two here and therewould mean Firpo is the next man up unless Farke wants to rely on Jamie Shackleton.

The back line as a whole has been very impressive, and from unexpected sources in part, but even with Byram fit it is the left side that is the biggest question mark so a new arrival in January probably can’t be ruled out.

The Subhuman wrote on 27 Nov 2023 05:57 pm

1964white wrote: ↑Mon Nov 27, 2023 5:40 pm All missed the target, as has occured in far too many games.

Kamara is a skilful midfielder (reminds me of Klich) and should be scoring goals. Far too often over the last 2 or 3 decades, we've had central midfielders who can't put the ball in the net.

The James effort was the Dan of old we all know!

Gnonto effort was a half-volley, but he got underneath the shot & inevitably it flew over the bar.

Piroe should be on at least a dozen goals but for some eratic finishing, powder-puff at times.

Ironically, Struijk tends to miss more with his head than when using his feet.

Bamford couldn't hit a barn door.

We would certainly be the top scorers in the championship by a long chalk if we were more efficient in front of goals, also would be on the same amount of points as Leicester, unfortunately we have chucked at least nine or ten points away due to our inability to take our chances & concede poor goals in at least four of our games.
Don't think Kamara has missed many like that, Gnonto has hardly played recently. We love to apportion blame and not realise it's just football. I watched Haaland miss 2/3 gilt edge chances recently. Everyone does it. Leicester have had the run of the ball so far, they've not played that well, it should catch up with them..

I remember Lorimer missing 2 pens in the same game, then miss a sitter in the next.. I wouldn't call him poor. I can't defend Paddy at the moment, he needs a run in the 21's.

1964white wrote on 27 Nov 2023 05:40 pm

The Subhuman wrote: ↑Mon Nov 27, 2023 4:27 pm Gnonto's was a great effort considering the bounce.. We didn't buy Kamara to score goals so he's not a natural, tricky shot which he sliced across slightly, they go in one in three. James was poor yes, not the miss but it was the wrong choice, was Piroe's but I'd rather he was more an in box predator
All missed the target, as has occured in far too many games.

Kamara is a skilful midfielder (reminds me of Klich) and should be scoring goals. Far too often over the last 2 or 3 decades, we've had central midfielders who can't put the ball in the net.

The James effort was the Dan of old we all know!

Gnonto effort was a half-volley, but he got underneath the shot & inevitably it flew over the bar.

Piroe should be on at least a dozen goals but for some eratic finishing, powder-puff at times.

Ironically, Struijk tends to miss more with his head than when using his feet.

Bamford couldn't hit a barn door.

We would certainly be the top scorers in the championship by a long chalk if we were more efficient in front of goal, also would be on the same amount of points as Leicester, unfortunately we have chucked at least nine or ten points away due to our inability to take our chances & concede poor goals in at least four of our games.

The Subhuman wrote on 27 Nov 2023 04:27 pm

1964white wrote: ↑Mon Nov 27, 2023 8:30 am The likes of Piroe, James, Gnonto & Kamara need to learn to shoot on target on a more consistent basis, the shots over the bar are due to poor technique & are inexcusable at this level.

Piroe should be well into double figures by now.
Gnonto's was a great effort considering the bounce.. We didn't buy Kamara to score goals so he's not a natural, tricky shot which he sliced across slightly, they go in one in three. James was poor yes, not the miss but it was the wrong choice, was Piroe's but I'd rather he was more an in box predator

1964white wrote on 27 Nov 2023 08:30 am

BobHirst wrote: ↑Mon Nov 27, 2023 3:35 am Didn't get to see the game.
Just watched your highlights.
It looked like we should have scored more than the one goal.
Summerville looked very good.
What a pass from Rutter for the goal.
It's a good job that Cooper cleared off the line and it was equally a good job that he was too slow to be able to catch hold of their winger and pull him back for a penalty.
What is it about Bamford's toe, finger or nose that prevents us from scoring.
At least we got closer to second place.
The likes of Piroe, James, Gnonto & Kamara need to learn to shoot on target on a more consistent basis, the shots over the bar are due to poor technique & are inexcusable at this level.

Piroe should be well into double figures by now.
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