‘Slow and pedantic’… BBC pundit says two Leeds United players were no where near their best vs West Brom

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BBC pundit Jon Newsome has criticised Leeds United’s lack of intensity when in possession during the 1-0 defeat to West Brom last night.

Leeds, once again, could not come up with the answers to overcome a side happy to defend deep with a performance that lacked any sort of ‘urgency’ in the final third.

Having also been beaten 2-1 by Preston North End on Boxing Day, it was the first time Leeds have suffered back-to-back defeats all season and now leaves them cut adrift from the top three.

Speaking on BBC Radio Leeds’ post-match show, Newsome has singled out both Crysencio Summerville and Wilfried Gnonto in particular for criticism, for their performances at the Hawthorns.

He believes that neither of them showed any intent in looking to get on the front foot and beating their full-back, which led to an easy night for West Brom’s central defenders.

Summerville and Gnonto struggle

Newsome said: “The number of times we get the ball out wide, we’ve got the best two wingers in the league and neither of them – Gnonto or Summerville – have had a go at their full back.

“As a centre back, if you have a winger taking your full back on and putting balls across your six yard box, it’s hellish and a nightmare to defend against. Instead, what we do is go back out to the midfield. It’s all slow and pedantic.”

Gnonto was handed his first start since a 1-0 defeat at Stoke City in October but failed to take his chance, though it should be clear by now that his best position is out on the left.

That said, both he and Summerville certainly did appear as though they were playing within themselves and could’ve certainly shown more intent to attack their full-backs.

Aside from Georginio Rutter, Leeds have very little in the way of creativity through the middle of the pitch and so when the wingers aren’t firing, the attack looks toothless.