Luca Koleosho’s impressive solo goal secured a crucial 1-0 victory for Scott Parker’s Burnley at Elland Road, delivering a significant early blow to a potential promotion rival.
Despite Leeds controlling possession, they were thwarted by Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford’s stellar performance and the visitors’ strong defensive showing.
Leeds’ manager Daniel Farke, while clearly disappointed, chose to highlight some positive aspects of his team’s performance.
“It’s incredibly frustrating to walk into the dressing room unable to explain why we didn’t win,” Farke admitted. “Given the challenges of the international break and only one session together, I was pleased with how dominant we were, starting strong and leading in almost every statistical category.”
He continued, “We weren’t effective in crucial moments. We had chances early on, like Mateo’s one-on-one and Willy Gnonto’s attempt from eight yards out. We should have had a penalty too. We created many corners, but only Burnley capitalized on one. Manor Solomon’s mistake led to a counterattack, which they finished well.”
Farke noted that, despite having better chances, his team failed to convert. “We need to be self-critical. I was disappointed to concede from that situation. We had opportunities to score, and the goalkeeper made some excellent saves. The second half was disrupted by injuries, substitutions, and time-wasting, making it tough to break them down.”
He also mentioned the physical toll on his key players due to international duties and emphasized that, despite the loss, the performance encouraged him for the rest of the season. “Playing with such dominance usually sets you up well for a successful season,” Farke said. “Although it’s a long league, and a third consecutive win would have put us in a stronger position, we need to accept that we are in a chasing position now.”
The result sees Burnley move into third place, while Leeds drop to ninth.
