Leeds United man faces fan wrath, defender chides winger and off-camera Chelsea moments - YEP 5/3/23
At Chelsea, not for the first time this season, Leeds United deserved something from their performance but earned nothing.
By Graham Smyth
Although under Javi Gracia the Whites look more defensively
sound and less open to big switches or attacks through the middle, they are
struggling to put the ball in the net. A 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge, given
the scale of the hosts' spending on recruitment, is no great shame but it felt
like an opportunity missed, given the pressure Leeds were able to exert at
times, albeit without overly troubling Kepa in the Blues goal. Here's the YEP
take.
Good day
Robin Koch
One of Leeds United's most consistent performers this
season. He has had a wobble or two, but by and large he has been a reliable,
steady presence in the heart of the Whites defence. It was his willingness to
drive with the ball and pass forward from the back that helped them recover
from such a difficult start and gain a foothold in the first half.
Willy Gnonto
Another bright display, this time as a second half
substitute. Leeds have perhaps been overly-reliant on the teenager so a rest
was probably due, but when he came on he looked dangerous and was involved
heavily in some of the better football they played late on.
Bad day
Jack Harrison
On his day he's a chance creation machine and a goal threat,
but he hasn't been at the top of his game for any real length of time in what
feels like too long. At Stamford Bridge he struggled and could have been
replaced at the break. The second half, bar a nice set-piece delivery, was a
torrid one for him. Supporter frustration, while understandable, cannot have
helped his mood or confidence so his eventual withdrawal was expected. Needs
confidence. Needs a goal.
Brenden Aaronson
The impact he made against Fulham as a midweek substitute
was not in evidence at Chelsea. Physicality has been the bane of his first
season in the Premier League and the contrast between the pest who buzzed
around and irritated the Blues so effectively in the first meeting, and the
lightweight player who was buffeted and surrounded by defenders and midfielders
on Saturday, was stark. Another in desperate need of a goal contribution, or
two.
Off-camera moments
Javi Gracia's long conversation with Marcos Abad when the
squad arrived pitchside at Stamford Bridge.
Kepa wearing a black training top bearing José Ángel
Iribar's name, in homage to the famous Athletic Club de Bilbao keeper who has
just turned 80.
Ayling's now traditional energy gel, delivered from the
bench, several seconds before kick-off.
Gracia feeling the need to give Tyler Adams instructions
after 10 minutes. The head coach then inviting Marc Roca to sit in the front
row of the bench so he could explain the same point to him.
Abad giving Meslier instruction for goal kicks as Leeds
struggled to play out from the back.
Ayling's shake of the head as Summerville gave it away in a
bad area, leading to a big chance for Chelsea. The full-back had words with the
winger, who eventually livened up and went on to have a decent performance.
Archie Gray's huge smile as the away fans sing his name for
the first time while he warmed up down the touchline.
Willy Gnonto's ball complaint at half-time as he and Roca
warmed up with some gentle passing. The ball evidently wasn't inflated to their
liking, a point the Italian made to fitness coach Juan Jose Solla, before Roca
took matters into his own hands and sent the ball into the technical area.