Leeds United produced their best performance of pre-season to beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 at Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium, with Patrick Bamford and Ian Poveda scoring – but here are three losers from Thursday night’s win.
Three losers from Leeds win against Nottingham Forest
Lew Bate
Other than goalkeepers Kris Klaesson and Dani van den Heuvel, £1.5m midfielder Bate was the only other player to remain on the bench during the victory. A clear indication, he is some way down the pecking order at Elland Road.
Jamie Shackleton and Ethan Ampadu started, while Archie Gray and Darko Gyabi came on. Tyler Adams could stay this summer, with the USA skipper still injured. Signings could be made. But it is clear that Bate needs to move on.
Joe Gelhardt
Earlier in the week, Gelhardt said his best position was as a 10 – picking the ball up deep and running at the defence. He did do a couple of times against Forest, but he struggled to find the time and space to really have a go at Forest.
He was often seen dropping in alongside Shackleton and Ampadu, collecting the ball off the defenders. Fine, if he is having an impact in the final third too, which he didn’t. It was his press that saw Joe Worrall pass to Patrick Bamford.
Pascal Struijk
Struijk impressed against Monaco, but on the right side of central defence – Liam Cooper starting. Cooper started in what is Struijk’s favoured role and apart from one moment, was excellent. Clearly, Cooper is first choice in that role.
At left-back, Struijk is behind Leo Hjelde and Sam Byram. The latter remains a free agent, but you would suggest he is edging towards a new deal. It means Struijk is falling down the pecking order in both positions, despite relegation.
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