Leeds United got the job done on Saturday in the third round of The FA Cup as The Whites squeezed into the fourth round with a narrow 1-0 win over Harrogate Town.
It was far from vintage Leeds as Daniel Farke made numerous changes that saw a few fringe players get into the starting line-up. Josuha Guilavogui and Isaac Schmidt got their first starts in a Leeds shirt.
Elsewhere, Karl Darlow, Largie Ramazani, Wilfried Gnonto and Mateo Joseph were all handed starting spots in the side. It saw Leeds managed to pick up a victory but it was not as convinced as most hoped.
That is to say, Leeds did hit the woodwork on a couple of occasions and came close to adding to the only goal of the game, scored by Largie Ramazani. Joseph was one of two players to hit Harrogate’s post.
Jonathan Buchan says Mateo Joseph looked really frustrated at FT
With Patrick Bamford and Joel Piroe unfit to play against Harrogate and Joe Gelhardt left out as he closes in on a loan move to Hull City, Joseph was Farke’s only option to play up front against Harrogate.
But he failed to add to his two goals this season and BBC Radio Leeds presenter Jonathan Buchan told the Don’t Go To Bed Just Yet podcast what he noticed Joseph looking very “frustrated” after the 1-0 win.
“He looked he was trying too hard, trying to convince everyone there is a player there. Trying to score a couple of goals to make everyone go ‘okay, that might just spark him into life'”, Buchan said on Joseph.
“He looked frustrated. He was the first player to walk off. He didn’t stomp off but he was the first player off afterwards and he looked frustrated, it’s not just going into the back of the net for him,” he added.
Leeds could do with more fire power up front this month
Farke has hinted at signing another striker, especially with Gelhardt leaving for Hull in the coming hours and Bamford sidelined until the end of the month. Piroe is easily the club’s first-choice striker right now.
The Dutchman has had a hand in 15 goals this season, scoring 10 and creating five. While he does often go missing in games, his numbers are excellent and that is currently leaving Joseph on the sub’s bench.
Bamford is a target for Blackburn and if Leeds do let the one-time England man go, then they will be left with two options – neither, having managed to fully convince. Leeds need to consider signing a striker.
The Whites have been linked with plenty including Louie Barry, Dor Turgeman and Mergim Berisha of late. Middlesbrough’s Emmanuel Latte Lath is also a target but Mateusz Klich’s Atlanta have just bid £20m.
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