Leeds United had a rough day on Saturday, losing 1-0 to promotion rivals Burnley. Graham Smyth from the Yorkshire Evening Post didn’t hold back, calling the Whites’ performance “uninspiring.”
Before the international break, Leeds were in good shape, going unbeaten with two wins and two draws in their first four games. With both teams keen to stay in the race for automatic promotion, this match was crucial for both Burnley and Leeds.
In a closely fought game, the only goal came in the 18th minute when Luca Koleosho scored for Burnley. That 1-0 lead was enough for the away side to hold on to for the rest of the match.
Leeds had an “uninspiring” second half
Heading into the second half, Leeds were down 1-0, so Daniel Farke and his team understood that they needed to find the back of the net in the final 45 minutes.
The Whites had nine shots in total in the second half, but only two went on target while Burnley countered with zero as they attempted to hold onto their advantage. Smyth was short and to the point in describing Leeds’ second half, as they could not crack Burnley’s defense as the away side opted to park the bus to leave Elland Road with all three points.
“Desperately poor second half from Leeds, insipid and uninspiring stuff in the face of a parked bus,” Smyth wrote on X after the match.
FT Leeds United 0-1 Burnley
Desperately poor second half from Leeds, insipid and uninspiring stuff in the face of a parked bus.
— Graham Smyth (@GrahamSmyth) September 14, 2024
Leeds striker Mateo Joseph was one of the players to receive criticism for his performance in the contest and missing a golden scoring chance that should’ve ended in the back of the net. BBC commentator Scott Read didn’t hide his frustration with Joseph’s missed opportunity to give Leeds a goal in the match.
“A terrible mistake at the back and a huge get out of jail free card for Burnley,” Read said. “In theory, they should be 1-0 down. But it’s a stinking finish from Mateo Joseph.”
Leeds will head to Cardiff City next week, hoping to bounce back from Saturday’s disappointing performance and result. A road win will be needed since the Whites are currently out of the top six.
