Leeds United produced yet another lacklustre display as they were beaten 1-0 by Blackburn Rovers this afternoon.
Rovers inflicted Leeds’ first home league defeat of the season as Sammie Szmodics’ late strike was enough to earn three points another really frustrating day.
Just like against Sunderland, Blackburn were happy to sit deep, absorb pressure and slow the clock down, but once again, Leeds just did not have the answers to break them down.
Leeds’ attacking players have been off the boil for a number of matches now but the likes of Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter were both arguably at their worst today.
It has been a struggle for much of the season to break down packed defences without scoring an early goal, with Daniel Farke simply having been unable to find the answers.
Hay says Piroe was being ‘yelled’ at by Roberts today
Leeds spent much of today’s game passing the ball sideways and backwards, which is a pattern you can ill afford to get into when sides are camped on the edge of their own box.
Other than Willy Gnonto, there was no one in the Leeds team today showing the required urgency and tempo needed to move Blackburn’s defence around the pitch.
Joel Piroe was among one of three changes made by Farke today and with his lack of minutes recently, you would have expected him to be desperate to make an impression.
Aside from a couple of decent passes, Piroe just did not effect the game in the slightest and according to Phil Hay, he was actually ‘yelled’ at by Connor Roberts in the first half.
Hay wrote on his Twitter that Roberts was shouting at the 24-year-old to show some more ‘urgency’, as he desperately sought some options from a first half throw-in.
Joseph should’ve been handed start over Piroe
Patrick Bamford’s place in the side has looked at risk for a number of matches now, and so taking him out of the team was the right call by Farke.

However, bringing in Piroe was not. He has shown time and time again this season he does not have the attributes to play as a lone front man, and that was proven again today.
Having made a change up front, Mateo Joseph simply had to be the man to come in based on his recent cameos from the bench.
Joseph is much more effective at making defenders work for every ball, has pace in behind and has shown he can finish. Farke has to trust him.
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