Good Morning. It's Monday 16th December, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Last gasp goal earns Leeds a drawLeeds United's struggles away from home are becoming a major cause of concern, after only managing to secure a disappointing, albeit fortuitous point at Preston on Saturday. With one win in their last ten and most recent home victory coming two months ago, expectations were high coming into the game, but as we all know, things are never that straight forward where Leeds are concerned.
What the Lilywhites lack in talent, they more than make up for in physicality. Collectively, with a PhD in falling over and dogged determination to con the referee, Preston football club it seems, was not on the guest list when the beautiful game was introduced.
Despite the huge disparage in talent, Preston took the lead on 23 minutes after a classic counter attack move, finished off at the far post by Brad Potts with his second of the season after good work by Osmajic. It had taken, the hosts just twelve seconds to find the back of the net from their own penalty area.
Herein lies the problem. Leeds build up play is so mind-numbingly slow that it can take them fifteen minutes to reach the opponents penalty area, and that's assuming they don't lose the ball. Whilst Preston were content to pump the ball into the penalty area from anywhere on the pitch, the Leeds 'must retain the ball at all costs' attitude is having a negative effect.
Leeds had a host of chances to get back into the game. Aaronson horribly miscued the ball when one on one with the keeper, James (Leeds only shining light throughout the match) rattled the bar and Bamford fluffed his lines from two yards out.
With seconds remaining Joseph (with help from Jack Whatmough) bundled the ball home with a last gasp equaliser, Preston's eleventh of the season, leaving Leeds second in the table, three points below the Blades.
Farke remains diplomatic over referee decisionsLeeds Manager Daniel Farke remained diplomatic during his post match press conference, when asked about referee John Busby's officiating. The man in black made of host of bad decisions during the opening half which saw Ben Whiteman escape a red card, for a horrible assault on Jayden Bogle, Osmajic getting James booked by rolling around on the floor and multiple soft offences leading to carefully orchestrated set pieces, all of which were pumped deep within the confines of the Leeds back line.
Farke himself, and a member of the Preston coaching staff were both booked as tempers flared following the Whiteman incident. Peter Murphy, took offence at Farke remonstrating with the fourth official, and intervened - leading to both getting cautioned. Words with the referee must have been had, as he rarely put a foot wrong after the interval, ignoring three (albeit blatant) attempts to con Busby! According to Farke...
I don't want to judge the referee today. I have a good relationship with him. I spoke to him, but I won't say anything publicly on him. Whiteman felt at least a yellow card the second time. Nasty foul. I am not calling for reds after full-time. Subbed at half-time. He knew what he had to do. I should be allowed to speak to the fourth official about why this is not a yellow card.
A member of the opposition staff should not be stopping me from talking to a fourth. I would have argued with Paul, but when someone else comes to tell me to sit down, after 200 games, achieved a bit, manager of Leeds United. I showed some steel and told him what to do.
I don't know his name, he could have been the coach drive, but he tells me to go away. You think I should accept that as manager of Leeds United? I had to show some steel and back my lads. Why I have got a yellow card for this? I don't know.
Same fourth official at 1-0 down and they are time wasting, there are so many breaks in the second half. He kept telling me the time will be added. Never played less than four minutes in a game like this. How can it be? In such a game when one team is chasing and the other is surviving. Lowest minutes I have seen in the Championship.
