Leeds United midfielder Ethan Ampadu has delivered his verdict on his side’s 0-0 draw with Yorkshire rivals Hull City yesterday evening, claiming that he was happy with the defensive work put in, but that the Whites need to be more clinical in front of goal.
Leeds were on top for the first hour of the contest and, on another day, would have been two goals up at that stage – with both Georginio Rutter and Crysencio Summerville having efforts denied by Hull goalkeeping debutant Ryan Allsop.
Out of the two it was Rutter who was handed the ideal opportunity to open the scoring midway through the first half after being put through one-on-one, but he was unable to convert due to a smart stop from the Tigers man.
The momentum of the game swiftly switched on the 60 minute work however as Leeds centre-back Joe Rodon – who has impressed massively since joining on loan from Tottenham in the summer – was sent off for a second bookable offence on Aaron Connolly.
As was to be expected Liam Rosenior’s side immediately upped the ante and could very well have won the match were it not from a baffling miss from Hull’s Adama Traore, who inexplicably hit the woodwork from a few yards out with the goal at his mercy.
Whilst the Whites can, in part, credit a great deal of luck with managing to come away from the MKM Stadium with a clean sheet and a point – Ampadu also believes that it was defensive resilience which helped his side over the line.
“Every game is tough but especially when you go down to ten men against a team who’re carrying a lot of momentum. It can be very tough.
“But although they had a lot of the ball at the end, they had the big chance and hit the post and we’ve got to thank the post a little bit. Other than that, I know it’s hard, we’re defending but we’re also comfortable to defend in that sort of way.
“Everyone puts their body on the line and in the end happy with a point. When you can’t go and win a game don’t lose it.”
Despite being proud of the defensive stability shown by his teammates when under immense pressure, there was also a recognition from the Welsh international that the Whites should have made the most of the opportunities handed to them before Rodon’s early dismissal.
“But, we’re also a little bit disappointed we had a lot of chances especially in the first-half. When was the red card? After 60 minutes we showed we had a lot of chances and we’ve just got to be a little bit more clinical.
“Of course, whenever there’s a red card the other team gets the momentum. Like you said there, it was about digging in and everyone putting their bodies on the line, which they did.”
Last night’s stalemate in East Yorkshire saw Leeds pick up their third consecutive clean sheet, and extends their unbeaten run in the league to five games.
A victory against Watford at Elland Road on Saturday would give the Whites seven points from their last three fixtures, an impressive return which will build momentum for Farke’s side following last week’s international break.
