The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Wednesday 4th March) Black Cats win on road for first time since October against tired Leeds

[Ellandback1]

Good Morning. It's Wednesday 4th March, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...


Black Cats win on the road for first time since October against tired Leeds

It was a frustrating night for Whites fans at Elland Road last night, with skipper Ethan Ampadu costing Leeds survival hopes dear, after giving away a totally unnecessary penalty half way through the second half of their drab affair with Sunderland last night. From the opening whistle, the match felt goalless slog, with Daniel Farke’s men looking visibly drained after their recent shift against Manchester City.

The deadlock finally broke in the 70th minute, but not in the way the home crowd expected. Usually reliable, Ethan Ampadu suffered a rare lapse in judgment when the ball struck his arm in the box, allowing Diarra to drive his spot kick down the middle past Karl Darlow, who dived out the way. It felt like a gut-punch for a Leeds side already stewing over a disallowed Joe Rodon header which almost broke the cross-bar minutes earlier.

Leeds had also been denied a spot kick of their own after Luke O’Nien grabbed Pascal Struijk by the neck and wrestled him to the ground, but the appeals (just like their execution in the final third) were half hearted. That's not to say that the effort wasn't there; Daniel Farke's side dominated the statistics, including an xG of 2.17, with the Black Cats offering a meagre 0.7, only by way of their penalty - an indication why they hadn't won on the road since the end of October.





Social media lit by by anxious Leeds fans

It’s getting increasingly difficult to blame the Elland Road faithful for hitting the panic button. After last night’s performance, social media was ablaze with Whites fans venting their frustrations on 'X,' and the consensus is pretty clear: Leeds are their own worst enemy. From giving away soft penalties to haemorrhaging late goals, the habit of shooting themselves in the foot has become a trademark!

The statistics tell a sobering story that backs up the fans anxiety. Daniel Farke’s side looked physically and mentally shattered last night, slumping to their third loss in six games. When you zoom out, the picture gets even bleaker; with only three wins in thirteen and a defensive line that hasn't secured a clean sheet in eleven matches, the foundation for survival is looking incredibly shaky.

While they caught a massive break over the weekend with other results tilting in their favour following the Manchester City loss, but this is outside their influence, and given their rotten luck I'm sure fellow Whites supporters would prefer not to leave their destiny to chance. Without the January reinforcements Leeds are running on fumes - it remains to be seen whether they can make it over the line come come May 24th when they travel to a rejuvenated West Ham.

[DDB220]

I am not hitting the panic button, I never expected a smooth ride in avoiding the threat of relegation through to the end of the season. We are on course and a win last night would have really been ideal.

Lots of games to play and we are capable of picking up points in all of the remaining games, so plenty to be optimistic about. But there will be more highs and lows and the teams in the mix for the last relegation spot may yet bunch up in terms of the points spread.

[Tyzy]

9 games,its not that many,especially as we may need 3 more wins to be sure of survival ! Fingers crossed the results go our way again tonight

[Sean_Nile]

There is nothing predictable in football. Who would have thought that Wolves at the bottom of the table would beat both Liverpool and Arsenal. Form gets thrown out the window, the bankers that your come to rely on don't happen. The results you expect don't materialize. Hopes get dashed. And we get sad that things go from bad to worse... a disallowed goal, and a penalty nearly saved. Cruel cruel world, those are the small things that make defeat a bitter pill to swallow.

[The Subhuman]

There is nothing predictable in football. Who would have thought that Wolves at the bottom of the table would beat both Liverpool and Arsenal. Form gets thrown out the window, the bankers that your come to rely on don't happen. The results you expect don't materialize. Hopes get dashed. And we get sad that things go from bad to worse... a disallowed goal, and a penalty nearly saved. Cruel cruel world, those are the small things that make defeat a bitter pill to swallow.

They didn't

[The Subhuman]

Wolves actually played well v Liverpool, Sunderland didn't versus us. They created nothing, wouldn't have scored if we played 180 minutes with the Leeds players leaving the pitch after 90....

[SG90]

The biggest issue is that we have reverted back to the style of play from earlier in the season that didn't work, which is how Farke wants to play. It confirms beyond any doubt that he only changed up as he was forced to, because his job was on the line. He would never have done that out of choice. We have also dropped Bijol, who was a big threat from set pieces and long throws, which have now dried up.

[WhiteRose]

Twas just an awful awful game, it was evident from the first 5 minutes how it was going to go. Felt very much like a championship match and you would think Farke would have had the faith to come out of his 3-5-1 safety zone for once and have a go at them like the old days - after all he told us he knew how they would set up.

[The Subhuman]

For all we talked about Sunderland in freefall, their form has been better than ours last ten games

[Sean_Nile]

They didn't

I stand corrected.

Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal ended in a 2-2 draw. Arsenal initially led 2-0 but Wolves came back to equalize.

but my point stands that no one would have predicted that result.

[Tom the Cat]

An unbelievably poor tactical set up by Farke against a team that clearly came for a draw and whose only shot on target was a weak penalty that just crept in. Loads of sideways and backwards passing in our own half and at least two throw-ins level with their penalty box that ended up with Darlow. Had the match gone on for another 90 minutes Sunderland would not have scored unless Ampadu gave away another idiotic penalty. On top of all that it is starting to look like wresting in the penalty areas is now part of the game. It is easily stopped by the referee entering both dressing rooms before the match and telling the players that any wrestling will result in a free kick or penalty and a yellow card. Trouble is that the refs haven't got the balls to do that.

[Orange Box]

Good opening post, EB. Although I would go back and correct your AI bot. Diarra’s penalty was not “driven”. If Darlow hadn’t pawed it into the net I doubt the limp kick would have crossed the whitewash under its own steam.

[The Subhuman]

I'll also argue the "struck his arm" bit... that sounds accidental, he nudged it forward with his arm deliberately

[Ellandback1]

Good opening post, EB. Although I would go back and correct your AI bot. Diarra’s penalty was not “driven”. If Darlow hadn’t pawed it into the net I doubt the limp kick would have crossed the whitewash under its own steam.

Yer cheeky git. The driven down the line was my contribution

[Musicman1965]

The most annoying thing about this game is the way we set up. After the first 10 minutes you could what Sunderland were going to do. The disgraceful time wasting that wasn't punished by the weak ref, to players suddenly deciding there injured when little contact has been made. Sunderland came to Elland Road for a draw and got all 3 points. We got what we deserved, played it safe and got punished for trying to grind out a result that we had the players to win the game. Can we blame the players? Or are they under orders to carry out the managers wishes... This result is down to DF not having a game plan, no changes until to late and then chuck everyone on in the last 15 minutes. The players let us down but so did DF who hasn't learnt from past mistakes.

[Chilli D]

Last night was a real reality check for anyone who thought we would cruise to safety during the run in.
There are NO easy games when you are trying to avoid relegation.
I really think DF needs to be a bit more attack minded with his line up, even in the away games. One goal (Stach's free kick at Villa) in the last 3 games says it all.
For me, Aaronson should be dropped, whether it be for Nmecha, Gnonto or James is up for debate but they are all fresh legs and he is offering very little at the moment.
I'd like to see Tanaka in place of Gruev as well but he can't even get on the pitch at the moment so it's unlikely to happen.
I hope DCL is given a rest against Norwich as well.

[Chilli D]

Thank God Wolves had such a s**t start to the season. They are the form side in the bottom 6 at the moment but they've left themselves too much to do.
Rob Edwards has turned them around.

[The Subhuman]

Thank God Wolves had such a s**t start to the season. They are the form side in the bottom 6 at the moment but they've left themselves too much to do.
Rob Edwards has turned them around.

They get Liverpool in the cup this week.... should be interesting

[JoeDenver]

Last night was a real reality check for anyone who thought we would cruise to safety during the run in.
There are NO easy games when you are trying to avoid relegation.
I really think DF needs to be a bit more attack minded with his line up, even in the away games. One goal (Stach's free kick at Villa) in the last 3 games says it all.
For me, Aaronson should be dropped, whether it be for Nmecha, Gnonto or James is up for debate but they are all fresh legs and he is offering very little at the moment.
I'd like to see Tanaka in place of Gruev as well but he can't even get on the pitch at the moment so it's unlikely to happen.
I hope DCL is given a rest against Norwich as well.

Gruev dropped for Nmecha with Aaronson dropping back a little would do wonders

[Phild]

Not sure we got what we deserved .
A point was deserved despite our shortcomings.
If Nmecha is fit he must start, certainly in home fixtures.
Ampadu must be saving himself for the Wales play off!!!