'I don't want to blame' - Leeds United man defends youngster after hard lesson in Preston loss — YEP 26/12/23
Leeds United boss Daniel Farke was reluctant to criticise versatile teenager Archie Gray who endured a difficult afternoon against Preston North End on Boxing Day.
By Joe Donnohue
Gray's direct opponent Liam Millar had a hand in both
Preston's goals at Deepdale as Leeds were shocked by the mid-table side after
demolishing Ipswich Town days earlier - a game in which Gray in particular
excelled from right-back.
Seventeen-year-old Gray started in defence once again, as
has been the case since the beginning of October, but found an individual
battle against the flighty, more experienced Millar, on loan at Deepdale from
Swiss side FC Basel, one he could not win.
Millar's cross was turned in by the head of North End
skipper Alan Browne shortly after Illan Meslier had been sent off during the
second half, after cutting in from the flank he shared with Gray. Then, during
the final stages of the match, Millar's infield run and curling finish from 25
yards clinched all three points for the hosts, on what was a trying afternoon
for many Leeds players.
Farke was keen to stress Leeds' team performance contributed
more to their defeat in Lancashire than individual displays, but did also
acknowledge Gray's was not up to his usual high standard.
"It was definitely a tough game but also in many, many
situations I was happy with Archie. It's always the same for young players. You
get so much praise and the sun was always shining for him in the last weeks and
months. Yes, sometimes you also learn the most out of the difficult days and
this also where he has to learn a bit about it, but I have no doubts [he will]
because he was the most disappointed guy after Illan [Meslier] in the dressing
room.
"I think he handled many situations really well but
obviously if you're then involved in such a crucial situation where he scores
and out of this [it's] the winner, Archie knows that he should have closed the
inner line a bit better," Farke told reporters at full-time.
Gray has not missed a single matchday squad this season,
which given his age and prior experience of senior football before the opening
day draw with Cardiff City, is nothing short of abnormal. Leeds, on the whole,
seemed leggy at Deepdale and Farke was especially disappointed with the side's
attacking and general creativity before Meslier's red card.
"He should have done better definitely, but I don't
want to blame Archie Gray that much - I would rather speak about our offensive
game in the first half because we didn't create enough," Farke added.
Leeds have options at right-back with Djed Spence back from
injury, Jamie Shackleton close to a return and Sam Byram involved in matchday
squads again. Long-time incumbent Luke Ayling is currently ruled out with knee
issues, according to Farke, but the German has plenty of alternatives at his
disposal if he decides that some time out of the side, or back in his usual
position of central midfield, could be beneficial for Gray in the coming weeks.