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Pre-match thoughts:
A strong lineup today for Leeds United, with a big crowd expected at Elland Road. Fulham are coming in after drawing with Norwich City and Reading FC so far on the Championship. Christiansen bringing out a good looking lineup, only missing the obvious Liam Cooper. A win here would be greatly appreciated and also expected!
The whistle blows and we are underway here at Elland Road!
The game started with a quick substitution for Fulham. Only a minute after Alioski's half volley, Tim Ream goes down injured. After a few minutes, Ream is taken off the field and play continues.
It took 11 minutes for the game to have a real close chance, and that chance came to Fulham as Stefan Johansen has a shot on the edge of the box, and it whizzed just wide of Wiedwald's net. Still scoreless!
Fulham dominated the next few minutes, with AK-47 (Aboubakar Kamara) taking a shot in the box and the ball just deflects wide. Then, in the 18th minute, Cisse hit the post and Fulham are looking very dangerous!
Christiansen happier with that display. Said Leeds "deserved more" on the basis of the second half but admitted Fulham were better early on.
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) August 15, 2017
Then, a small shift in momentum happened as Leeds started to have a few chances. Pablo Hernandez played in Saiz, he tried to find Chris Wood but his pass into the middle was intercepted.
Leeds looked on the back good, but Chris Wood finally had a shot on target. 31 minutes in, Wood tried to dink the ball just over Button, but the Fulham stopper was able to get a hand to it and force the save.
Lucas Piazon for Fulham was injured in the 35th minute, and he was replaced by Neeskens Kebano.
Then finally, in the 43rd minute, I thought Chris Wood had put Leeds ahead. Saiz whipped a ball into the box and Wood was able to put it into the back of the net, but the linesman had his flag raised and as a result, we are still scoreless 0-0.
After three minutes of added time, the referee blew his whistle and the first half ended scoreless.
The 2nd half started and I was definitely looking for more attacking play. We were clearly the 2nd best team in that half, and if we needed to get all 3 points, we had to play a much better 2nd half.
Only a few minutes into the 2nd half and we have our first yellow! Alioski went down injured after a collision in the air frrom wonderkid Ryan Sessegnon. This foul immediately resulted in a yellow for the Fulham wingback!
The first sub of the day for Leeds came in the 63rd minute, where winger Alioski came off for energetic winger/forward Kemar Roofe!
Two short minutes later, and Kalvin Phillips is booked for a foul on Johansen.
Foul on Saiz 20 yards out. Central. Hernandez territory. 68th minute. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) August 15, 2017
68 minutes in and Leeds have a real good chance! Saiz is taken down 20 yards from goal, and up steps Pablo Hernandez who I'm sure is going to take a rip at it...
Well he did. And, it hit the wall. We are still 0-0 here at Elland Road!
CHANCE: Kalvin Phillips finds Saiz who puts a nice strike on the ball and the effort goes just wide of the goal!
76' substitution here for Fulham. AK-47 is replaced with Oliver Norwood, the Northern Ireland international.
SAVE: Johansen played the speedy Aluko through on goal, but Wiedwald came away victorious after making a fine save to deny a goal! 0-0 after 80 minutes!
Leeds make another change in the 82nd minute as Stuart Dallas comes on for Saiz!
A yellow card caution is shown to Anita for a foul on Aluko on the right sided flank, which gives Fulham a great crossing opportunity on this free kick. Luckily, the cross was caught by a towering Felix Wiedwald!
CHANCE: After a great defending play by Shaughnessy, Leeds go out on the counter. The ball fell to Kalvin Phillips in the box but can only put his shot JUST wide! Only 4 more minutes until the full 90 is up. Can we see a winner?
FT: Leeds 0 Fulham 0. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) August 15, 2017
Unfortunately, after two missed chances from Leeds, three minutes of added time, and one missed Fulham shot, the final whistle blew and the game ended in a 0-0 draw.
Well, the unbeaten run continues! 5 points from 3 games isn't terrible, but definitely something to improve on this season! What was your take on the game?