Game Recap: Leeds lose yet again, this time 1-2 to Derby County

Leeds took the lead in tonights match against Derby County, but were unable to maintain their lead and lost the match 1-2 after Derby took the lead on a penalty that was given late. And while Leeds fans will feel hard done by after some extremely questionable referring, the truth is that Leeds did not look good enough for long stretches of the match.

Many questions will be asked about the lack of changes to the team that was yet again unable to win, despite scoring first, not to mention the lack of defensive cover not being brought in to replace the loss of Charlie Taylor to Burnley and Kyle Bartley being recalled by Swansea City, not to mention the lack of an established striker to replace Chris Wood.

Pierre-Michel Lasogga started the game off well for Leeds, scoring a goal in the 9th minute after Ronaldo Vieira won possession and played the ball to Saiz, and the Spaniard picked out Lasogga in the box and the big German made no mistake, slotting the ball into the back of the net for a good start for the hosts.

Leeds were on the back foot for a short while as Derby County found their attacking edge after about 15 minutes, but Leeds were able to soak up the pressure with little problem. Andy Lonergan made a terrific punch to clear out a Derby corner, which most Leeds fans wished that Felix Wiedwald would takes notes and figure out how to do as well.

Leeds had a penalty shout waved away in the 41st minute as it appeared that the Derby County defender took Gjanni Alioski to the floor while the ball was in the air heading their way. Leeds had another foul waved away as Lasogga ended up on the ground after Joe Ledley stuck a foot up into Lasogga while challenging for a 50-50 ball.

Lasogga was quite good heading the ball away defending corners, and what he didn’t head away, Lonergan did a fantastic job punching clear or catching. Leeds weren’t as effective at set pieces as they are with Pablo Hernandez in the lineup, but still looked better than in the last match against Sheffield United. Half-time ended well for Leeds, as the team went into the dressing room up 1-0.

Leeds started the second half well, with the game going back and forth for the first few minutes against Derby. Alioski had a very nice cross in the 52nd minute that was cleared out into touch by the Derby defence, but it was literally inches away from being converted into the back of the net by the Leeds attackers.

Alioski won a free kick on the left hand side and Kemar Roofe’s delivery put it into a dangerous position, but Derby’s Scott Carson was able to clear it without too much trouble, despite (allegedly) being fouled by a Leeds player.

Alioski had a great chance that Carson did well to put out for a corner and then from the corner, Lasogga was played into the box with the ball at his feet, but he was unable to put the ball into the net. The quality of the ball that Saiz played into Lasogga literally cannot be understated, it was that good.

Saiz set off on a marauding run in the 61st minute, ducking and diving through the Derby defence, only to fire a shot over the bar after he was unable to get the ball to Alioski. Martin was unable to convert about a minute later for Derby as ex Leeds United player Bradley Johnson did well to play him in, but in the end, it all came to nothing.

Derby equalized in the 72nd minute after Derby got some space down the right, and to be fair, the equalizing goal had been coming after Derby had some sustained pressure for a good amount of time.

Derby scored a penalty in the 80th minute after Hadi Sacko needlessly ran into a Derby player outside of the box who then fell into the box. Leeds fans and players felt particularly hard done by, considering the earlier waved off penalty which appeared much more convincing than the nudge from Sacko.

Leeds went for some attacking changes near the end of the match, but again, the changes seemed too little, too late to affect the outcome of the match. Leeds officially seem to be a club in full crisis mode, as the club seems unable to keep sustained pressure on the opposing team and unable to defend their goal as well. And while it would be tempting to blame the result on the referee, the point must be made that Leeds scored first, but was still unable to hold the lead and gave up the equalizing goal far too easily.