Leeds United 0 Aston Villa 0. A scrappy intense match with kamikaze aggression. Poor discipline led to a backs against the wall performance.
It has been 29 days since our last match against Brentford FC which we lost badly 5-2. Leeds need this match with Captain Cooper back to settle their defence and not fall back into the problems of last season. Last time Aston Villa FC beat Leeds United 3-0.
Gnonto replaces out of form Gelhardt on the subs bench. The fans will look forward to seeing him as an impact player. Rodrigo is the forward although Bamford could have started – still too soon?
In form Struijk is rightly chosen over the dodgy but fit Firpo. And Marsch is in the terraces due to his red card. Aston Villa have had a poor start to the season but did beat Southampton in their last match.
After early pressure Leeds begin to move players around but their passing is loose. Rodrigo has one long range effort but can’t connect with crosses. Aston Villa claim the first shots on target by Coutinho. Leeds tested the Villa defence but don’t get shots on target.
The football is frantic- neither team composed on the ball and playing with intensity to force each other to lose the ball. Leeds play aggressively and give away a few free kicks in to the their penalty box which Villa are dangerous. Yellow cards are being handed out for late tackles and dissent.
It was proper physical battle in the first half – fouls breaking up the play. Leeds lacking the final shot – the game is crying out for Bamford to get on the end of the crosses.
Second Half Second Card
Terrible start to the second half. Sinisterra commits a stupid mistake blocking a free kick, gets a yellow card and is sent off for a second card. Immediately Villa take the offensive and hit the cross bar but Watkins cannot control the rebound.
Leeds are rattled from the sending off and the fouls keep coming. Roca is subbed and not happy, with Firpo on to add an extra player in defence. Further changes to protect the draw with experienced Ayling, and Bamford on as Leeds have not had a shot on target in the first hour.
Despite being a man down Leeds have a rare attack on goal with Bamford shooting Leeds’ first shot goal but Aaronson can’t quite connect the rebound. Klich comes on to bring his experience and Sommerville for impact. Klich knows his job- waste time.
It’s desperate stuff at the end with Villa just having a go at goal. Meslier keeps Leeds in the match with a key save late on. Then Bamford again takes on VIlla. We needed Marsch when we went a man down but managed particularly well. We were unlikely to score but after a man down we stopped them from getting a shot on goal.
Sinisterra did lots of assisting but didn’t get opportunities to shoot. The sending off was avoidable. Roca and Adams were the engine in the midfield that are making Leeds stronger going forward. Meslier had a poor game missing too many punches. Much improved performance by Kristensen on the right in defending.
Stuart Atwell, the referee, was poor today. He too quickly dished out yellow cards in the first half, after which there was no turning back when the fouls kept coming.
A lack of discipline cost Leeds today – one red and too many yellows will lead to players missing future matches. Going down to ten men prevented us from having a chance to win today.
Man of the match : Bamford
[…] for another draw but a defeat is worrying in how Leeds hover too close to the relegation zone. Aston Villa are unbeaten in their last for matches against Leeds United and five points […]