Leeds slipped to their first (league) loss of 2024 with a pitiful performance against play off hopefuls Coventry City on Saturday afternoon. Expectations were high, after Ipswich faltered at the hands of bitter rivals Norwich City just hours earlier, but Leeds could not capitalise! Instead of returning to the top of the pile, they found themselves out of the automatic promotion places, and must now rely on either Leicester City or Ipswich Town slipping up!

Leeds were punished on 9 minutes, after failing to clear a corner, which eventually got bundled over the line off the head of Ellis Simms. The quality of the goal (both defensively and attacking wise) had all the trademarks of a Sunday morning at Hackney Marsh, but it didn't matter to a sold out Ricoh Arena, such was the significance of the match. They doubled their account early in the second half. Eccles (who had been given the freedom of midfield all afternoon) sliced the Leeds defence wide open with a deep diagonal ball to Hadji Wright deep within the Leeds penalty area, claiming his seventeenth of the season.

Leeds tried to rally. Summerville went close a couple of times, before Piroe finally got one back with fifteen minutes left on the clock, but it was too little too late. The hard work put in by the players over the first quarter of 2024, has been undone by three inept performances, and now it's out of our hands.

	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
	20	James, Daniel Midfielder
	24	Rutter, Georginio Forward
	10	Summerville, Crysencio Midfielder
	9	Bamford, Patrick Forward
	Subs		Nat	Match Events
	7	Piroe, Joel Forward
	33	Roberts, Connor Defender
	29	Gnonto, Wilfried Midfielder
	49	Joseph, Mateo Forward
	5	Cresswell, Charlie Defender		Unused Sub
	6	Cooper, Liam Defender		Unused Sub
	12	Anthony, Jaidon Midfielder		Unused Sub
	25	Byram, Sam Defender		Unused Sub
	26	Darlow, Karl Goalkeeper		Unused Sub

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