The Elland Road factor was prevalent again this weekend when Leeds United hosted their bitter rivals Man United. Going into the game, there was huge pressure on the away side.
Carrick’s men were winless in five games and had lost their last match in the Champions League.
They were playing so poorly that many tipped them to lose at Elland Road before the match even kicked off. But Man United proved the doubters wrong as they took the lead just before half time.
Leeds had gotten off to a slower start than usual, with the away side creating more chances in the first half.
They could have doubled their lead, but they fluffed their lines, which came back to haunt them in the second half.
Simon Jordan makes feelings clear on Elland Road live on talkSPORT
Leeds United fans at Elland Road. Credit: Imago
Leeds United came out of the halftime break playing like they had something to prove.
Just six minutes into the second period, Dominic Calvert-Lewin got on the score sheet and gave the team hope of a result. In that second half, the Whites had most of the ball and created chances but could not convert.
The game ended in a draw, with Michael Carrick the happier of the two managers after avoiding defeat.
Elland Road was buzzing throughout the game, and in periods that Leeds were down, the crowd was able to spark something in them. Simon Jordan described the stadium as a ‘cauldron’ on talkSPORT and said most sides will be drawn into battle when they play there.
“Man United – I don’t know what they are.
“They got a result at the weekend, but you expect them to play well against Leeds because that’s a cauldron.
“You can’t go up to Elland Road and not get drawn into a battle against Leeds United, as that’s what they will do.”
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Leeds should have gotten a result on Sunday
This past weekend was yet another game that everyone felt the Whites should have taken maximum points in.
They were clearly the better side for large stretches of the game at Elland Road, but the team still cannot put away chances when they are on top. It happened against Man United too.
This is now more than two games where the result could have changed if the club took their chances.
Leeds fluffed their lines after going 1-0 up against Arsenal, and sat back and conceded when they took the lead against Brighton. Daniel Farke has to resolve this before it gets out of hand.
Leeds repeated failure to sign a recognised goal scorer may come back bite them again. They create chances but DCL can’t be everywhere and do everything. Either play him and Nmecha as a dual attack from the kick off or get someone in January who can play with and support DCL in the opposition penalty area. Farke almost certainly knows this but the board have repeatedly failed do what is needed.
There were lots of crosses but no one on the end of them.