After back-to-back wins following the FIFA international break, Leeds United faced a frustrating setback on the road, ending in a scoreless draw against Bristol City FC at Ashton Gate Stadium on Saturday.
The Whites had recently claimed a 2-0 victory over Sheffield United and a 2-1 win against Watford, both at Elland Road. Riding that positive momentum, Daniel Farke and his squad hoped to continue their success against a mid-table Bristol City side.
Leeds United took eight shots in the first half, compared to just three from the home side, but the match went into halftime without a goal. In the second half, Leeds added another shot for a total of nine, while Bristol City managed only one. Despite the efforts from both teams, neither could break the deadlock.
With the Whites struggling to secure a win against a mid-table Championship side, doubts are starting to arise about their chances of earning promotion to the Premier League.
Darren Bent offers major Leeds United concern
Throughout the 2023-24 season, Leeds often found themselves leaning on the standout performances of Crysencio Summerville or Georginio Rutter to secure victories.
It wasn’t always a collective team effort; rather, it was frequently a key moment from one of those two that made the difference. Darren Bent mentioned on TalkSPORT that he believes this reliance still exists this season.
“It almost looked like they were hoping on individuals having moments or brilliance to win rather than a real clear plan and a real team strategy,” Bent said (h/t LeedsUnited.News). “But I fully expect Leeds to be there come the end of the season.”
Despite the draw, Leeds United are still outside the automatic promotion spots in the Premier League, sitting five points behind first-place Sunderland and losing the goal differential tiebreaker to Burnley.
In such a competitive race, a win against Plymouth Argyle is crucial, especially since they’re currently at the bottom of the Championship table. This is a match where Leeds should be aiming for all three points. A draw or defeat would be hard to swallow for the squad, who are eager to avoid the Championship Play-Offs for a second consecutive season.
Failing to secure a home win against Wayne Rooney’s team could raise some alarm bells. Leeds came out of the FIFA break with positive momentum, and if that fizzles out, concerns about their ability to finish in the top two will only grow.
