Leeds United touchline overrule, Struijk and Stach make up and off-camera Brentford moments — YEP 15/12/25
By Graham Smyth
Good day, bad day and off-camera moments from Leeds United's
hard-fought 1-1 draw at Brentford on Sunday.
Leeds United are unbeaten in three after once again coming
from behind to secure a draw with a second half fightback.
Brentford barely deserved their 1-0 lead at the Gtech
Community Stadium but they weren't complaining when the ball hit the back of
Lucas Perri's net. Yet Leeds showed the character that roared forth in the
previous game against Liverpool and responded brilliantly to adversity. Dominic
Calvert-Lewin's fourth goal in four games secured a result that few other teams
have enjoyed at this ground, this season.
Here's the YEP take.
Good day: Daniel Farke. Another game in which his changes
took effect for all to see. The introduction of Willy Gnonto led directly to a
goal that gave Leeds a really valuable point at a very difficult ground. Farke
is turning things around after a difficult spell and this was another important
box to check - away performances and results.
Good day: Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The big striker is having a
bit of a moment when it comes to goalscoring. This was vintage Calvert-Lewin,
rising in the penalty area to guide the ball home with his head. He owed a lot
to the perfect cross from Gnonto but he still had work to do. The way he hangs
in the air is a sight to behold.
Good day: Ethan Ampadu. The captain played an important role
in keeping Leeds on the front foot. He turned his frustration and angst at the
goal and Brentford's celebrations into forward momentum. It was his
determination that forced the ball to Gnonto ahead of the equaliser.
Bad day: Ao Tanaka. Having scored in each of his last two
games, Tanaka should have come into this game brimming with confidence but his
performance did not portray that. This was not one of his best showings. He's
clearly still getting to grips with the Premier League.
Bad day: John Brooks. The referee gave one of the softest
penalties you will see and thankfully for him and Leeds and the game of
football, VAR was able to overturn it on the basis of an offside. Even if it
took an age. His overall performance was really inconsistent too, which narked
Farke.
Off-camera moments
Ethan Ampadu showing his appreciation after Jayden Bogle
produced two stunning top corner finishes in the shooting drill before the end
of the warm up. The first went top left, the second top right. He then sent
Alex Cairns the wrong way and grinned as the keeper threw a remark in his
direction.
The outfield players had to wait to complete their final
sprints because Ao Tanaka was busy drilling shots into the net from 25 yards
off both feet. Even after the sprints were done Tanaka had more shooting to do.
A kit man was positioned inside the left hand post collecting balls so the
Japan international fired one into the opposite corner. Then dinked a 35-yarder
onto the crossbar.
As the teams came out the away side were cheered onto the
pitch by the travelling support and Whites fans in a top floor apartment
overlooking the ground, with a flag in the window.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin using a break in play to deliver loud,
clear instructions about movement to his strike partner Noah Okafor.
Jaka Bijol barking at Pascal Struijk to cover inside as the
Slovenian went to deal with a bouncing channel ball.
Joe Rodon complaining to his fellow defender Struijk as the
teams came off at the break. The Dutchman had been saying something to Anton
Stach, which Rodon clearly disagreed with. When the team emerged for the second
half Struijk and Stach had a high five and a quick chat.
Rodon telling his team-mates to wait and hold as they all
piled forward for a last-minute long throw from Ampadu. Farke quickly overruled
and sent him forward.
