Leeds United picked up a valuable point on the road at Brentford, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin continuing his fine form by scoring in a fourth successive Premier League match earlier today.
The result leaves the Whites 17th in the table and three points clear of the relegation zone, a creditable position given the difficulty of the task at hand against a Brentford side that has been formidable on home soil this season.
Coming into the fixture, Leeds’ away record made for grim reading, with six defeats in their previous seven league matches on the road. That made the 1-1 draw all the more important, as they produced a disciplined and resilient performance to earn a deserved share of the points.
Once again, Daniel Farke’s side demonstrated the quality and character required to compete at this level, reinforcing the belief that they have a strong chance of securing Premier League survival in their first season back among the elite.
Leeds United captain Ethan Ampadu gets deserved praise from Jamie Redknapp
Ampadu was immense at the heart of a Leeds midfield today at the Gtech Stadium. He needed to step up to ensure the Whites compete against a team who are strong at home.
Leeds were the better team in the second half. Rednapp feels the credit should go to Ampadu for controlling the tempo of the game after the break.
He believes Leeds have every reason to feel mightily pleased for earning the point at Brentford. The former midfielder insisted that Daniel Farke again got his substitutions spot on.
“Ethan Ampadu deserves a special mention as well. He was absolutely fabulous in midfield. He got hold of the game second half, and it was a captain’s performance”, Redknapp said on Sky Sports.
“I think they will be delighted. You know what it’s like when you go away, and you go a goal down – you question whether they had the character to get back in the game, and they certainly did, Leeds.
“You see the smile on Daniel Farke’s face there as he is walking off, I think he will be delighted. They had to find something with 10 minutes to go.
“He made a couple of substitutions, he went to a back four, and that’s where the goals have come from. The goals from Liverpool came from a back four, and also the goal today.
“He will look at that today, and I think he will be delighted. That is a big point for Leeds.”
Ampadu is Farke’s embodiment in the team
Ampadu is almost undroppable at Leeds under Farke. The manager made him the club captain as soon as Liam Cooper left last year, and he has not looked back.
If fit, Ampadu plays, no matter what the midfield combination around him. The Leeds manager has even been accused of rushing him back from injury to get the Welshman into the team.
The Leeds captain is the embodiment of Farke on the pitch, and the manager may not be able to visualise a team without Ampadu in it.
He has also been remarkably consistent for Leeds. The calmness he brings to the team often goes missing when he doesn’t play due to injuries.
It is no surprise that Ampadu is the focal point of everything good that Leeds do on the pitch. When they are playing well as he basically dictates the tempo of the game.
