If you’re not scoring goals but are at least creating chances, the goals will eventually come. Unfortunately, Leeds managed neither against West Brom, possibly due to the absence of a key creative player in midfield.
Some football matches are easily forgotten, even by those who played in them, and Leeds’ early-season draw with the Baggies is likely one of them. Both teams managed eight shots, with only one on target, which in Leeds’ case barely qualified as such. Each side also racked up 0.70 Expected Goals. The match lacked quality, excitement, and memorable moments, with Leeds and West Brom effectively neutralizing each other.
Leeds fans have had a rough few days, facing a cup exit to a league rival, the imminent sale of star player Georginio Rutter, and a fourth consecutive week without a permanent signing. Given the circumstances, perhaps a point away from home against a team they couldn’t beat last season isn’t too bad. After all, football is about results. However, Leeds often seemed to be merely surviving in the match, never really taking control, but they were solid enough defensively to avoid conceding.
Joel Piroe replaced the Brighton-bound Rutter in the No. 10 role, as he did midweek, but he wasn’t the spark Leeds needed. The team’s creativity was lacking, much like the mood in the camp after Georginio’s release clause was triggered on Wednesday.
The opening half hour was lackluster, with Mateo Joseph struggling against West Brom’s towering center-backs, Semi Ajayi and Kyle Bartley. Georginio’s absence was keenly felt, as Ilia Gruev and Piroe couldn’t replicate his creativity. The frustration from the away fans grew, especially when Dan James turned backwards during a rare attack, drawing groans from the crowd. Boos followed five minutes later when Illan Meslier ended up with the ball after a Leeds free-kick in West Brom’s half. By the 32nd minute, after Jayden Bogle passed back to his goalkeeper from a cleared corner, the boos intensified, and chants of ‘attack, attack, attack’ erupted.
By halftime, Leeds had accumulated an Expected Goals total of just 0.19, with their most ambitious effort coming from Ethan Ampadu, who attempted a long shot from inside Leeds’ half, which missed the target.
The second half didn’t offer much improvement in terms of chances. Leeds made substitutions, bringing on Joe Rothwell and Brenden Aaronson. Aaronson, as usual, was energetic, linking up well with Junior Firpo at one point, but lacked the decisive pass. Joseph, who had tirelessly battled against Bartley and Ajayi, was replaced by Patrick Bamford in the 79th minute. Bamford also struggled to create an opportunity, although his low cross late in the game was perhaps Leeds’ best chance to score. There were other minor opportunities, like Pascal Struijk’s header from a corner that went wide, but overall, Leeds didn’t do enough to find the net. As Farke noted, they were far from an ‘offensive firework.’
Farke often talks about recognizing the style of opposition managers when analyzing teams. The absence of Georginio’s style—much like the smooth, connected strokes of cursive handwriting—was evident in Leeds’ performance at The Hawthorns.
In their bright yellow away kit, Leeds failed to shine, lacking that certain spark that could have made the difference.
