Leeds United suffered only their fourth Championship defeat of the season on Sunday lunchtime as The Whites were beaten by Portsmouth at Fratton Park, denting their promotion hopes.
Sheffield United and Burnley piled the pressure on Leeds on Saturday afternoon with wins over Preston and Luton, and it saw the Blades go level on points with Leeds going into Sunday’s clash down south.
But Leeds could not mirror Sheffield United and Burnley’s wins. Instead, Colby Bishop scored the only goal of the game with a neat finish after a mix-up between Joe Rodon and Illan Meslier on 61 minutes.
Leeds had chances but it was an abject performance. Some way off the level of performance they have produced at times this season – with Leeds struggling to get the better of John Mousinho’s high press.
Leeds United fans stunned by what they saw from Ao Tanaka
Leeds should have scored two or three. Joel Piroe was guilty of missing two absolute sitters before laying on Junior Firpo, who saw his close-range effort saved – and then, Dan James’ header went narrowly wide.
But it was Portsmouth that ran out victors largely because Leeds were far from their best. Plenty can be blamed for producing sub-par performance, not just Piroe or Firpo. Ao Tanaka was miles off his best.
Leeds fans took to X to give their verdict on the Japan star’s performance. A player that has been up there among the best players in Daniel Farke’s side, but was woeful in comparison on Sunday afternoon.
One supporter simply said Tanaka “looked lost” at Fratton Park, before he was replaced by Farke on the 68th minute. Another blasted Farke for not removing Tanaka earlier, saying he had been “awful today”.
While Tanaka did produce one of his poorest games of 2024-25, there was also a frustration with Farke for not taking the former Dusseldorf man. Another said Tanaka was “sloppy” but Farke “ain’t changing it”.
One fan said that a “Tanaka stinker” was not timely or something Leeds needed at this stage this season. Another said that he was “constantly having his pocket picked” by Portsmouth midfielder at Fratton Park.
Lunchtime hoodoo gets the better of Leeds United again
Portsmouth away was the tenth time Leeds have played between midday and 1.30pm this season and prior to the game, Leeds had averaged just 1.2 points a game while on average, Leeds have more than 2.
Once again, the issue has struck for Leeds and it is clear Farke’s men don’t have any answers. Whether it is a case of changing routine or simple coincidence, who knows but starting early is clearly having an effect.
Next up for Leeds is Millwall, a side that have already beaten Leeds twice this season at Elland Road on Wednesday night before a trip to QPR next Saturday – who beat Leeds 4-0 in the same game last term.
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
