Leeds United’s unbeaten run is intact for another match after the Whites secured a point against Man United at Elland Road on Sunday, with Matheus Cunha cancelling out Brenden Aaronson’s strike.
Leeds came into the game without key players Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon and Dan James. However, Sean Longstaff was back on the bench after a long-term calf injury, although Longstaff stayed on the bench.
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Brenden Aaronson was immense once again 🔥
Farke made two changes to his side, replacing Ampadu and Lukas Nmecha with Noah Okafor and Dom Calvert-Lewin. Leeds were unlucky not to lead at half-time, after Calvert-Lewin’s header kissed the post.
In the second half, Brenden Aaronson sent Elland Road into raptures – scoring a superb goal with his left foot. But it was immediately cancelled out when one-time Leeds target Matheus Cunha scored again.
Daniel Farke admits he did something risky on Sunday
After Cunha’s goal, Farke decided to bring on Ao Tanaka, Nmecha, Willy Gnonto and Joel Piroe as he decided to go for a winner rather than just accepting a point against one of the world’s biggest sides.
Piroe came close with a curling effort and Gnonto looked sharp, with some neat forward passing. It wasn’t enough, but certainly Leeds piled the pressure on instead of Man United searching for a late winner.
Asked by Owen Hargreaves about putting on such attacking subs, Farke said: “Of course, it was a bit risky. You could feel a lot of load in the last few weeks; rock solid at the back. The gut feeling was to go for it.
We will never be happy to just park the bus. Playing with a more attacking base formation is a bit risky But I think it was the right call, we almost won the game even after their equaliser,” Farke told TNT Sports.
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How many points now separate Leeds and West Ham?
Results could not have gone better for Leeds this weekend, and while some may rue Leeds not beating Man United to take advantage more, the extra point is still a big step towards Premier League safety.
West Ham remain in 18th, on 14 points, after their loss to rock-bottom Wolves who now have six points. Burnley stay in 19th after losing to Brighton while Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth also lost.
Leeds have increased the gap from seven to eight between themselves and the Hammers. Paul Merson thinks West Ham are down; it does feel like it would be a mighty effort for West Ham to come back.
An eight-point difference, with 18 games left to play, is a big old difference for the Hammers to claw back but Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are set to sign three new attackers – Taty Castellanos, Pedro and Adama.
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