It was a bad day at the office for the Whites, with a well blow-par performance against relegation threatened Huddersfield Town. Whether they were suffering from an FA Cup hangover from their midweek clash with Chelsea, or were simply not prepared for the ugly side of the beautiful game is up for debate, but Leeds did not look like a side challenging for automatic promotion.

Even if the game had been played at double speed, it would still have been slow. Time wasting and constant interruptions every few minutes interrupted Leeds rhythm, though the ten minutes of added on time would prove significent. Like most non footballing sides, the hosts were most dangerous from set pieces, and true to form, duly took the lead from a free kick, speculatively fired into the box, early in first half stoppage time.

Veteran striker Danny Ward rose highest, with a bullet header which Meslier did remarkably well to keep out, but substitute defender Michel Herik was on hand to tap in the rebound. Three minutes later, the hosts were reduced to 10 men, after Jonathan Hogg received his second yellow car, after elbowing Junior Firpo in the face. This should have proved significant, yet Leeds would go on to manage just one more (two in total) shot on target for the rest of the game.

Ten men Huddersfield continued to frustrate Leeds in the second half. Their 79% possession meant nothing in terms of points on the board, and it wasn't until Dan James and Connor Roberts came on, that Leeds looked like getting something from the game. Their shot on target came on 67 minutes. The Welsh duo combined brilliantly, before Roberts picked out Bamford at the far post for his seventh of the season. Summerville was denied late on by the woodwork as Leeds searched in vein for the winner but it was not meant to be.

	Line Up		Nat	Match Events
	1	Meslier, Illan Goalkeeper
	22	Gray, Archie Midfielder
	14	Rodon, Joe Defender
	4	Ampadu, Ethan Midfielder
	3	Firpo, Junior Defender
	44	Gruev, Ilia Midfielder
	8	Kamara, Glen Midfielder
	29	Gnonto, Wilfried Midfielder
	24	Rutter, Georginio Forward
	10	Summerville, Crysencio Midfielder
	9	Bamford, Patrick Forward
	Subs		Nat	Match Events
	33	Roberts, Connor Defender
	20	James, Daniel Midfielder
	7	Piroe, Joel Forward
	12	Anthony, Jaidon Midfielder
	5	Cresswell, Charlie Defender		Unused Sub
	6	Cooper, Liam Defender		Unused Sub
	25	Byram, Sam Defender		Unused Sub
	26	Darlow, Karl Goalkeeper		Unused Sub
	49	Joseph, Mateo Forward		Unused Sub

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