Leeds United blood and thunder missing but disappointment is revealing — Graham Smyth's Man Utd Verdict — YEP 5/1/26

By Graham Smyth

The verdict from Leeds United's 1-1 Premier League draw at home to Manchester United.

Leeds United were unable to summon blood and thunder against Manchester United but there is serious encouragement to be taken from the disappointment they felt in drawing.

It says so much that Leeds went into the game with 48 hours less rest than their opponents, missing key operators like Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, Jayden Bogle and Daniel James and yet still there was a measure of confidence and expectation bubbling in and around the stadium long before kick-off. The best chance in years was how many were summing it up. A Manchester United side without the star power of so many that preceded it and struggling with injuries. A bench that included Darren Fletcher's teenage kids. A Manchester United manager more accustomed to criticism than acclaim from his own fans.

This fixture is often described as different. Not just another game. Not just another tricky test in the Premier League. Something different, that requires a different approach from everyone involved. From the police and stadium security, to the players. Home fans booed the entire visiting line-up as it was announced 10 minutes prior to kick-off. The visiting analysts in the press box appeared to have their own personal security beefcake. There was a palpable edge to the atmosphere.

That edge never really showed itself in the game. It never exploded. No red cards or any challenges that VAR needed to take a close look at. No mass confrontations for the FA to get their teeth into and boost their coffers with five-figure fines. No real controversy to leave the masses baying. Gabriel Gudmundsson had a small stud-shaped hole in the top of his foot and a trickle of claret running onto his Adidas slider but that was it for blood. And despite a raucous din that greeted the sides, there was just the one thunderclap when Leeds took the lead.

Man Utd started brightly but Leeds defended well

There were moments that gave the home crowd something to shout about. Anton Stach crunched into a challenge on the touchline to further raise the roof around Elland Road. And while there were encouraging moments in the opening salvos, the visitors did not wilt and were able to settle into it. Manuel Ugarte sent a header over the bar before an offside flag ruled out a Matheus Cunha half volley. But with Man Utd enjoying some possession came the chance for Leeds to break. Noah Okafor and Brenden Aaronson combined to create the hosts' best early opportunity, Dominic Calvert-Lewin sending it over from an awkward angle.

Without being able to say they had ever really been at their fluent best in possession, Leeds were comfortably in it and dealing well with most threats. Jaka Bijol in particular dealt well with a number of situations that could have been dangerous. Diogo Dalot skied an effort from a partially-cleared corner but with half-time nearing Lucas Perri was yet to be worked. Senne Lammens was yet to make a save either but he was beaten. Pascal Struijk teed up Stach, his cross was perfect and Calvert-Lewin's header was so nearly too. The woodwork kept it 0-0.

Prior to the interval Perri was finally able to show both sides of his game, the good and the bad. He reacted smartly to get a strong hand to Leny Yoro's point-blank header, then miskicked a pass straight out of play under no pressure leaving Farke burying his face in his hands.

But again, it spoke volumes that without some of the team's most influential players, Leeds were still completely in the game at the break. It was just evident that they were missing Ampadu's bite for second balls in the midfield and Bogle's delivery and attacking impetus to supply Calvert-Lewin.

The opening stages of the second half saw little in the way of quality from either side but with Okafor getting some joy with direct running and Leeds' physical defending getting the better of the visiting attack, Leeds were largely in control. So it was no huge shock when they took the lead, albeit if the manner of the goal surprised Ruben Amorim's men. Pascal Struijk sent the ball forward with body language that suggested he had given up hope of it finding a white shirt, only for Aaronson to dart onto it and bury beyond Lammens. The goal was everything Aaronson is known for, tenaciously refusing to give up and finding great positions, but it was everything his game needs to be too - composure and quality.

Elland Road celebrated appropriately, for three minutes. Then a ball in behind put Cunha in a footrace with Sebastiaan Bornauw, Perri decided to come off his line and in doing so opened up enough of his goal that the striker could find a finish every bit as cool as Aaronson's. That put a pin in the merriment.

Leeds United rallied to finish strong after equaliser

This Leeds team has made a habit of bouncing back from adversity or at least failing to let it dampen their spirit. Even without their leader they did so again and pushed forward. Gudmundsson's long throw made it to Okafor, he controlled and sent an overhead kick for the far corner only for Lammens to reach it at full stretch.

It was nothing like one-way traffic - Joshua Zirkzee pulled another glorious ball back to Benjamin Sekso in the area and the striker sidefooted wide from no more than eight yards - but if one side could claim that they finished stronger it was the hosts. Farke sent on Lukas Nmecha, Ao Tanaka, Willy Gnonto and Joel Piroe, switching to a back four. Gnonto started a counter with a nice dart inside and a pass to Stach and when he found Piroe the Dutchman's first touch of the game was a shot that curled just over the top.

Leeds were undoubtedly more ominous in the very final minutes and Stach had his head in his hands after a ball bounced to him 25 yards out and he lashed the final kick of the game into the South Stand.

But again, any disappointment has to be accompanied by an acknowledgement that just a few weeks ago this was a team struggling to score enough goals to reward their performances with points. They were in the relegation zone and two goals down at Manchester City. Farke was coming under serious scrutiny and 49ers Enterprises were 'attentive' but content to continue with him in post. A comeback that wasn't enough to stave off defeat at the Etihad apparently was enough to light a fire under a team now unbeaten in seven. Eight points above the drop zone. Having faced some incredibly good teams. Having lost some incredibly important players.

After a game against Manchester United that had no winner, it was the opposition manager who walked out of a press conference with questions still being fired at him about his future. Farke was able to focus entirely on the game, his team and what they have achieved together of late. Leeds are many things but they are not falling apart right now. Even if they go limping rather than marching to Newcastle United in midweek and once again have to dredge up the energy to go again, they do so very much together, very much a team who have proven they have deeper reserves of character and quality than most would have credited them for in late November.