Frustration, concern, anger. Elland Road was a cauldron of negative emotions at full-time on Saturday afternoon as Leeds United failed to beat Swansea City despite leading twice during the 90 minutes.
With Sheffield United winning the night before against Coventry City, Leeds needed to win to return to the top of the Championship. They looked as though they might do that when Brenden Aaronson scored.
Daniel Farke said Aaronson has been recharged and it took the American just 40 seconds to score a ninth goal of the season. But Swansea replied in the second half when Harry Darling netted for the Welsh side.
Darling was “touch and go” for the game but scored a second goal of the season against Leeds when Illan Meslier dropped the ball at his feet. The least Swansea deserved, having missed a penalty in the first half.
Daniel Farke explains Wilfried Gnonto substitution as Leeds draw
Farke put Wilfried Gnonto on in the 84th minute. Gnonto had returned early from international duty with Italy’s U21 side having picked up an ankle injury, but was deemed fit enough to play the final moments.
He scored, his second goal of the season against Swansea. But remarkably, another Meslier mistake saw Swansea net an equaliser in the depths of injury time – to the utter despair of Leeds United supporters.
Asked after the match about Gnonto, Farke said he was ready to start him prior to his injury: “If you asked me 10 days ago, I’d have said very close to starting. He went away and had this injury. A serious injury.
“There was no chance to start him today, A bit risky to play him today anyway. Hopefully he’s in a better situation for the next games,” Farke said in his post-match press conference, after Gnonto scored.
Daniel Farke also explained decision to take Ethan Ampadu off
It has not gone amiss among the Leeds fanbase that all hell broke loose after Farke withdrew Ampadu. The skipper was a surprise inclusion in the starting line-up, given he was 50-50 to play in the run-in.
Leeds were winning 1-0 but Ampadu was withdrawn on 58 minutes, having picked up a yellow card. Farke says Ampadu could have played longer but chose to take him off to avoid Leeds going down to 10 men.
“I observed him closely in training. He looked very sharp. It was clear he could play 60 mins. If not for the yellow he could have played longer. It wasn’t a coincidence that when he went off we hadn’t conceded.”
Leeds now sit in second place in the Championship table, two points behind Sheffield United and level on points with Burnley. The Whites have a whole week to wait until they next play, away at Luton Town.
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