Leeds headed into the Wolves match on the back of a difficult defeat against Arsenal where we found ourselves 3-0 at half but after a talking to by Bielsa, came out with more energy in the second half to pull tow back. Continuing injuries are holding the team back with players out of position. Kalvin Phillips and forward Rodrigo absent for another week. Struijk is growing as a defender and scored a goal butwas not a convincing replacement for Phillips passing backwards. Roberts is playing positively and surely should now replace Alioski. Sadly Llorente is available but Koch is still missing from our defence. This causes a headache for how we neutralise the threat of Traore. Dallas is the natural option here. In other news it looks bright with seeing Berardi gradually returning soon.
Roberts getting a start showing good link up early on between Roberts and Bamford. A scecond foray into the Wolves penalty box went awry with too many moves. Shackleton given Phillips’ role Struijl and proved more determined to take the ball forward. 200th league appearance for Dallas, playing confidently in defence cancelling out Traore and Neto. Another mistake by Ayling led to first good shot on goal by Neto. Meslier saving well. Wolves played with caution allowing Leeds to build from the back – something Arsenal hassled Leeds with. Wolves were also happy to shoot from outside the box.
Some lovely pressure on the half hour with Struijk having two quick fire shots on goal – is he going to be a future goal scorer? Both sides had plenty shots but nothing to show for it in the first half with Traore being the stand out player. Bamford having a quiet game – needed more service.
On the hour this was becoming like a turgid tuesday night match in the championship last season. Raphinha and Bamford not really shining. Roberts and Harrison not getting the service into the box. Finally a looming ball into box led to two shots on target stopped by the goal then Traore hits the post but goes off the back of Meslier. Absolutely tragic. All the pressure on Leeds to up their game now. Cooper, another defender, had four attempts on goal by 70 minutes. Absolutely blinder of a goal by Bamford disallowed by VAR that was too close to say.
93 minutes and Costa shoots at the goalie – that was the moment. Wolves do the double on Leeds. Leeds simply didn’t do enough to win the game. Painful to lose a goal that was so unlucky off the back of Meslier. Another defeat that Leeds need to deal with.
On a separate it was a solemn day for Leeds and their fans with the sad news of Kalvin Phillips’ grandma passing away. The club credited her with playing a pivotal role in keeping Phillips at Leeds and helping them to promotion to the Premier League. Leeds are family in many ways.
Man of the Match: Liam Cooper
