‘We’ve got to stick together’ - Leeds United debutant Charlie Cresswell looks forward after West Ham United defeat - YEP 27/9/21
Charlie Cresswell says that the Leeds United squad must “stick together” in order to get results after losing to West Ham United on Saturday.
By Flora Snelson
Leeds United dropped down the table following Saturday’s
loss to West Ham United at Elland Road.
The defeat allowed Newcastle United to leapfrog the Whites
on goal difference, meaning that after six games, Marcelo Bielsa’s side are in
the relegation zone.
The outcome is particularly galling as the Whites were 1-0
up for a large part of the match.
Leeds looked to be in control after Raphinha put the hosts
ahead, but gave way in the second half as an unfortunate equaliser, which took
a lethal deflection off Junior Firpo, took the wind out of the Whites’ sails.
As West Ham turned up the heat, Leeds crumbled, and there
was a feeling of inevitability to Michail Antonio’s last minute winner.
A tough afternoon out for all of Bielsa’s men, perhaps none
more so than the 19-year-old Charlie Cresswell, who made his first Premier
League appearance.
With Pascal Struijk serving the final game of his suspension
and Robin Koch and Diego Llorente both out injured, the young defender was
called up just five minutes before the players began their warm-ups.
Cresswell acquitted himself admirably, but could not prevent
heartbreak for the Whites on a gloomy afternoon at Elland Road.
“Sometimes results happen that shouldn’t happen,” the
centre-back said. “In football, you never know what could happen.
“Both teams battled hard today so it was tough to call.
“In the moment I’m gutted we lost.”
The defeat means Leeds have taken just three points from
their first six games of the season, a poor total compared with the ten points
achieved in the same period this time last year.
Following his first league appearance, Cresswell is hopeful
that the Whites can turn around their difficult run of form.
“We’ve just got to keep working hard every day,” he said.
“We’ve just got to stick together and work as hard as we
can, hopefully the results will come soon.
“Very soon,” he added.
