Hull City 3 Leeds United 3 – losing the plot. Leeds turned around a goal deficit with a Tanaka wonder goal and established a two goal lead, only for Meslier to make a howler and the whole team to lose the plot.
What just happened? How did Leeds manage to throw away a two goal lead. They just needed to play out the final quarter of an hour. Where were the substitutes on 70 minutes, that Farke is famous for, to kill off the game? Bringing on Guilavogui then would have done the job. Instead Leeds stopped playing and allowed Hull City to go at them.
We are in to the January window and Leeds could do with a striker – Bamford has been dropped from the squad for this match and is rumoured to be moving on so that should free up the cash for a new forward.
There is still a nagging feeling with Leeds’ away performances which was proven by the six goal mess today. Leeds need more points from away matches to stay top of the league. Burnley winning earlier today put them level on points with Leeds at the top and kept the pressure on Leeds. Hull have a had a poor season so far and have a new manager as a result – Ruben Selles. They are in the relegation zone and this should have been a regulation win.
Due to Wober not defending Leeds conceded an early lead for Hull with an excellent finish by Kamara who lobbed over Meslier. Leeds responded with chance after chance supplied by Solomon and James, but Aaronson and Piroe were always out of position or mishit. The passing was superlative but chances went begging.
Leeds were lucky not to be 2-0 down on the half hour with a rare Hull surge with a cross across the goal that hit the side post.
The second half started with a thunderbolt from Tanaka. His first goal for Leeds was a contender for goal of the season as he picked up the ball from Solomon on the edge of the Hull penalty box and scooped it over a wall of players and into the top corner.
The game then opened for both sides with Hull keeping Meslier busy. Leeds kept attacking with Solomon menacing on the left and finally on the hour he got a cross that missed everyone in front of goal for Bogle to cut back and James to tap in- this time it worked and Leeds were deservedly ahead.
Piroe then capitalised on a keeper era as the keeper pass to the defender went past him for Piitoe to pick up and use his left foot from the left side to get past the keeper. 3-1. But then Leeds took their foot off the gas and Hull were on top.
A huge blunder on 80 minutes by Meslier allowed a header from a free kick that hit the cross bar to be flapped back in to path of Pedro that gave Hull a lifeline with the score brought to 3-2. It was a nervous last ten minutes for Leeds that James could have calmed but his lob over the keeper who headed it to safety. Instead Hull equalised from a set piece corner with unmarked Kamara drilling the ball through a crowded penalty area. 3-3.
Leeds have only themslves to blame for losing their 3-1 lead. Leeds may still be top but this unconvincing defensive display and vulnerability to set pieces is in need of urgent attention.`
Man of the match: Solomon with his runs and pace.
