Given the transition in defence for Leeds United in the off-season, and with the addition of attacking players, Leeds were supposed to break free from the shackles of a Garry Monk style of play, looking to put the ball on the floor and passing it around, playing exciting, high-scoring football that would hopefully lead the team to promotion.
Since I said after Bolton that it might be a score four concede three type of season, we've had two goalless draws. I should probably quit.
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) August 15, 2017
Instead, after three matches Leeds has conceded only twice, once from the spot and once from a corner kick, both coming against Bolton on the opening day. And while the defence has been rock solid, with back to back clean sheets in the league, the teams as also only scored three goals in the league, all of them coming against Bolton Wanderers as well.
Opening day against Bolton had young Leeds starlet Kalvin Phillips score twice along with Chris Wood scoring a fine goal, with Wood looking like he was going to start up this season where he left off last season after scoring 30 goals in all competitions. The new era of attacking, attractive football seemed to be coming to Leeds with the new coach and a new system.
Leeds registered 23 shots vs. Port Vale, more than any competitive game over 90 minutes under Garry Monk.
— Chris Taylor (@LUFCDATA) August 10, 2017
Will be a growing trend under TC. pic.twitter.com/IEUIdrTz16
Fans were also encouraged about the attacking abilities of the squad after the Port Vale match in the League Cup. The team scored four goals, and seemed to be almost scoring at will during the final thirty minutes of the match. Samuel Saiz made his debut for the club and scored a hat-trick and with Ronaldo Vieira sending in quality balls in the final third and with Gianni Alioski also looking bright on the right wing, it looked as if the team was going to be scoring three goals a game for the rest of the season.
And then Preston came to town and looked content to just kick the Leeds players into a boring nil-nil draw. While Leeds had some good chances, the match descended into both teams mucking around until Preston were reduced to 10 men for the final 30 minutes of the game. And while Leeds poured pressure on the Preston defence and keeper, they remained firm and near the end it took a lucky bounce off the post to deny Preston a goal that totally and completely would have come against the run of play.
CHANCE: Dallas charges down the left, smashes a low ball across goal. Flicks off a Fulham players and behind by inches. Corner
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) August 15, 2017
Fulham visited last night, and while Preston’s physical play could have been excused by a desire to simply play for a point away from home, Fulham came to play football and kick-start their own season after two draws in the league. And while Fulham bossed the game for the first half hour or so, Leeds had a number of fine chances during the game that were totally wasted.
Leeds didn’t look sharp in front of net during preseason, and while the team was able to cut through Port Vale with ease, it’s a little worrying that the team has been unable to score in two of the three league matches so far this season, and both of the scoreless matches came at home. If Leeds are going to be in a serious discussion about being a promotion candidate, the goals have to start going in. And yes, while the season is young, it’s still something that needs to be addressed.