After two wins can Leeds gain some consistency? The loss of Rodrigo is difficult to quantify after recent quiet performances. However, it is another loss and a smaller squad and players playing out of their usual position. We have a new pitch at Leeds to see us through the season and the immediate impact is Leed players slipping on it and Harrison getting a yellow card for slipping into an Everton player.
The loss of two first team defenders showed itself with an awfully cheap goal given to Everton with the defence going missing as Sigurdssonplaces a simple cross into the net. Sigurdsson cost £45m – Leeds only player that adds up to more than £30m is the missing Rodrigo.
By the half hour mark both sides decided to charge into each other’s half and take pot shots. Both keepers were kept busy. Another case of an opposing team dropping its defensive style and instead match Leeds for pace.
Again Leeds one touch football giving too many away for Everton to counter attack. A simple tactic. Only Leeds defence kept us in the game. And then Leeds other weakness with corners leaves them two behind. A flick to the player at the back to Calvert-Lewin counts as the eighth corner kick goal so far this season.
A promising first half from Leeds with shots on target with the best by Alioski. The defence again the problem area.
Leeds actually came out in the second half with more bite and took advantage of confusion in the Everton with Raphinea showing his neat touch with a well placed shot into a crowded goal
On the hour Leeds blitzed the Everton goal and it was only Olsen who stopped us from grabbing that second goal. Bamford was the nearly man with good service giving him enough attempts at goal.
Roberts brought much needed pace to the midfield attack but at one moment he was not clicking with Alioski. Hernandez was then given quarter of an hour to bring some intelligence to the play but little happened. Leeds playing high towards the end of the match led to one scary moment of a one on one with Meslier – how Everton managed not to score.
The final shot of the match typified why Leeds were not destined to win – Leeds kept attacking the Everton goal and Bamford passed the ball to Roberts who had a clear shot on goal and skied it instead.
Man of the match: Raphinea
[…] for Leeds United. He seems to beat us whether it was when he was at Derby County, Chelsea or now at Everton. Everton are unbeaten in their last four visits to Elland Road. Everton have strengthened their […]