Here are our four talking points from Leeds United's 3-1 loss to Southampton at St Mary's Stadium in the Championship as Pascal Struijk hits a consolation on an otherwise dire day
The Championship is always lurking, waiting, ready to pounce. Ask Ipswich Town and Preston North End. The moment you begin to get excited or risk getting carried away with ideas above your station, whack, you’re 3-0 down inside 35 minutes to a side on the back of four straight losses.
Farke had guarded against assumptions about Southampton’s fragility, but this really felt like a major opportunity to twist the knife on a pre-season rival while they were wounded and propel Leeds into the upper reaches of the play-off race in the process. They just never got going. There is no doubt Southampton have an excellent squad on paper, one of the best in the division, but with their heads so low after four straight losses, this kind of half-hour blitz was never expected. The Saints will do this to many other teams over their next 18 home games and Leeds are sure to suffer more confusing defeats on the road, but they can’t afford to suffer too many more if they want to finish in the top two.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t cutting the mustard at any stage of Saturday’s trip to St Mary’s Stadium and one of the key takeaways was why did he not change it. Aside from the hesitant, disjointed nature of the backline, the midfield pair of Ethan Ampadu and Glen Kamara were neither protecting the backline nor providing passing options for the back five.
Perhaps Piroe’s lack of natural aptitude for the midfield side of the role left Ampadu and Kamara more exposed than they could cope with. An extra, natural central midfielder alongside them, an Archie Gray or Ilia Gruev, may have at least stemmed the flow of danger.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Farke's patient Ilia Gruev plan amid fierce Leeds United midfield competitionIlia Gruev has found opportunities for game time hard to come by during his first month at Leeds United
Read more »
Georginio Rutter opens up on Daniel Farke and 'different' Leeds United teamCatch up on tonight's latest Leeds United evening headlines as the squad undergo their final preparations for tomorrow's clash at Southampton
Read more »
Farke could rattle Leeds United dressing room hierarchy and tick promotion boxesLeeds United visit Russell Martin's Southampton at St Mary's Stadium in the Championship on Saturday afternoon and here are five things to look out for around the match
Read more »
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke 'couldn’t think about a worse moment to play against Southampton'THE form guide makes Leeds United's early kick-off at Southampton an absolute no-brainer.
Read more »
Leeds United team news as Farke names unchanged side at SouthamptonLeeds United can extend their unbeaten run to seven games this afternoon at St Mary's
Read more »
Live updates from Farke's post-Southampton vs Leeds United press conferenceFollow the latest from the Leeds United manager's post-match debrief at St Mary's Stadium after the Saturday afternoon clash with Russell Martin's Southampton
Read more »