‘All they did’… BBC pundit blasts one aspect of Leeds United performance in defeat vs West Brom

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Jon Newsome has blasted Leeds United for their lack of urgency in the 1-0 defeat to West Bromwich Albion last night.

Leeds suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time this season following the Boxing Day loss at Preston North End, with the top three having started to pull away from the Whites.

It was a familiar old tale for Leeds with it now their sixth loss on the road this season, many of which have come against teams who are happy to sit back and defend deep.

Leeds have been hailed as the best counter-attacking side in the division by some managers this season, but when they aren’t possible, there is very little in the way of creativity.

And speaking on BBC Radio Leeds, Newsome says Leeds have become predictable under Daniel Farke due to their lack of ‘urgency’ in their play going forward.

Leeds have been worked out

He said: “We have no urgency in our forward play. We get the ball at the back and we’re comfortable in possession, yes, we’ll keep the ball, but I look at it as an opposing defender.

“You can have the ball on the edge of your area or on the halfway line all afternoon and all evening long because you’re not hurting me, you’re not threatening my goal.

“When we do then try and start opening teams up, they’ve got a back five or a back four, midfielders sat in there, they know what we want to do, get the ball wide and have our wide men come at them.

“All they did all night long was double up on the wide men, so it made it virtually impossible for anyone to create anything because it’s too late, it’s way too late. I just think we’re becoming a little bit predictable.”

Farke seriously needs to find a way for Leeds to start unlocking deep defences otherwise any automatic promotion hopes could be ended as early as February.

Teams have started to work out exactly how to play against Leeds and the answers just aren’t there, which has led to so many poor teams like Stoke City, Preston North End and Birmingham City.

Leeds have been linked with a move for Bournemouth’s David Brooks this week and that sort of number 10 is going to be needed in January if anything is going to change.