Leeds United 0 Millwall FC 2 – we don’t do cup matches

Leeds United 0 Millwall FC 2 – we don’t do cup matches.  Nor do we do reserve teams.  Even with a huge Championship run Leeds’ reserve players could not lift themselves to beat Millwall.  Granted Millwall’s season is over and the Cup is all they have. For Leeds, promotion to the Premier League is everything. All we learned from this match is how the reserve players rate. And it is a mixed picture.

Guillavogui lacks pace and cost us a goal.  Joseph lacks confidence and creativity in the box. Ramazani and Gnonto were misfiring.  On the plus side Chambers looked a threat in front of goal, and Rothwell continues to impress with his forward runs and set pieces. 

Leeds have not lost at Elland Road since Blackburn in November. My son’s view of lunchtime kick-offs is that the results are too unpredictable to put a bet on. In some respects this was the case.  This was an uncharacteristically poor performance by Leeds.

This reserve team looked disjointed with misplaced passes and lack of threat in the box.  Leeds had the better of goal scoring opportunities but Millwall only needed one shot on target in both halves to score. It was a bad day at the office as even Struijk missed a penalty.

Farke has only won twice in seven meetings against Alex Neal, Millwall’s new manager. His reserve team was a mixture of substitutes like Darlow, Ramazani, Gnonto and Joseph, and bright young things like Chambers, Debayo and Schmidt. But it looked like a mistake – unless he just wanted to give the reserve players game time?

Putting out a group of players who don’t play together showed early on as Millwall looked more confident on the ball. Leeds lacked the fluidity with their passing.  Joseph was the biggest culprit with poor passing and not connecting in the box.

Leeds did look more dangerous on the counter with Chambers and Gnonto having early big chances.  Chambers in particular was Leeds best attacking threat on the right.  Ramazani was busy on the left wing with Gnonto looking dangerous in the middle.  But they could not break down the Millwall defence.

Leeds were thrown on the half hour by Azeez scoring from a deflection off Guilavogui.  Gnonto and Schmidt were guilty of going down too easily leaving Leeds short on defenders. Leeds were nearly two nil down five minutes later when Amapadu, who was too lazy on the ball, got dispossessed by Azeez whose shot hit the cross bar and bounced outside the line.

Chambers immediately responded with a shot that forced a head on save.  Guilavogui was in trouble again, lucky not to get a red for a stamp on foot.

In the second half Leeds nearly equalised from Ramazani but the defence was then left wide open as Guilavogui was easily dispossessed and Azeez had a free run on Darlow to score his second.  Matters for Leeds just got worse when Gnonto won a penalty and Struijk’s weak shot was palmed by Roberts off the post. Only Rothwell then had a chance with a free kick that tested their keeper. Leeds had the possession and far higher XG than Millwall but it counts for nothing if they cannot convert it into goals.

Man of the match: Sam Chambers – full of ideas and may be ready over Joseph for the first team.