Daniel Farke identifies ‘crucial’ Leeds United weakness, it cost them against Aston Villa

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Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has criticised one area of his team after it was ruthlessly exploited by Aston Villa.

The Leeds United defence has been in tatters after a strong start to the season, as the Whites continued their slide down the Premier League against Aston Villa.

Daniel Farke faces growing questions over his future with the club, with a poll of Leeds fans showing the majority want him to be sacked.

Despite Lukas Nmecha’s early goal, Leeds were powerless to prevent Villa from pulling themselves into an unassailable lead, thanks to two goals from Morgan Rogers.

Now, Farke has called out one key area of his defence, which also cost his side in their previous defeat against Nottingham Forest.

Daniel Farke criticises Leeds United’s defence

Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Farke criticised the left-hand side of Leeds’ defence after Villa managed to exploit the Whites at Elland Road.

According to Farke, although Gabriel Gudmundsson and Noah Okafor have combined well in attack, they remain a work in progress defensively, with Ethan Ampadu also failing to prevent the cross which led to Villa’s goal.

Farke said: “We have to analyse it and speak about the details that we have to improve at the moment.

“As good as we are over our left flank in terms of attacking, we concede too many goals over our left flank. We need to find solutions to stop this because this is crucial, especially for a promoted side.

“You have to make sure that you’re rock-solid at the back, and in the last games we’ve conceded, sadly, too many goals.”

• READ MORE: Leeds United fans show their frustration with Daniel Farke v Aston Villa with angry chants

Gabriel Gudmundsson needs more help for Leeds United

Leeds’ left-hand side has been opened up in four consecutive games, with West Ham, Brighton, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa all scoring a goal that came down that flank.

With Gudmundsson expected to play a key role in Leeds’ attack, overlapping winger Noah Okafor when he cuts inside, the Whites can be exploited down their left-hand side.

If Leeds cannot find a way to protect Gudmundsson when he is asked to roam forward, Farke may be forced into a change in system to tighten up their leaky defence.

Having dropped Jaka Bijol for the game against Villa, the Leeds boss may consider switching to five at the back for the upcoming games against Manchester City, Chelsea, and Liverpool to end their run of costly defeats.