West Brom 0 Leeds United 0. Stability in an existential crisis. It was an unremarkable match but one that we needed – a clean sheet and still unbeaten. After a nervous first half Leeds stepped up in the second half but lacked that confidence in front of goal.
This was always going to be a tough match at West Brom FC to have to play at the beginning of the season only made more haphazard by the existential crisis that Leeds started their new season with. It was a new era without the ever present Rutter.
We had suffered the loss of three key players that they could not control, no sign of incoming players to replace them, with the random draw against Portsmouth FC and the poor defeat against Middlesbrough FC in the Carabao Cup that saw Leeds concede six goals at home in their first two matches of the season.
Leeds played their first match in their highly popular new yellow away kit. It was a nervous first half and relied on Ampadu as the midfield anchor. They struggled to pass out with West Brom high press, lacking confidence to get forward. We didn’t see enough of Joseph today as Gnonto and James struggled to get the ball themselves first before Joseph. Too many balls were going sideways with fans frustrated and shouting “attack!” “Attack!”
West Brom relied on long balls to the corners which Firpoe and Bogle struggled with, but they failed to capitalise on this. Piroe filled the boots of Rutter but had a poor match not controlling the high midfield and a wasteful in front of goal.
West Brom ended the first half more likely to score with Struijk’s header deflected in the last minutes being Leeds’ best chance. Both teams came out in the second half determined to be more attacking with Leeds looking more hungry, winning second balls but that poor last touch was the reason for not scoring. But Leeds still have not sorted out their defence with set piece free kicks from West Brom using their extra man unmarked.
As the match drifted into the last few nervous minutes the referee lost the plot. Firstly with Bogle muscled to the ground and no foul given and then at the other end Firpo is shoulder charged and wins only a free kick. Both sets of supporters call out the referee as not fit to referee.
Firpoe had a Firpoe game. Struggled in defence in the first half earning a yellow card and then spent the second half trying to get forward. Gruev was lively in the middle but we missed that talisman in Rutter behind the striker. Rodon still lacks confidence in defence three matches in. But Struijk is a welcome return looking solid at the back.
It was a relief to see some stability in an existential crisis. The lack of attacking creativity showed in the lack of shots and on target. Some first team arrivals would calm down the players and fans. Farke looked like he had a frustrating afternoon with this timid performance. But the more positive second half saw the Leeds fans being the dominant voice in the ground and applauding the players and Farke after the whistle was blown.
Man of the match: Ampadu looking solid in the middle of defence taking a knock in the second half.
