Daniel Farke pokes fun at Leeds United rivals but FA Cup draw was no joke - Graham Smyth's Verdict — YEP 28/1/24
What's worse than one trip to Plymouth Argyle? The jokes wrote themselves after Leeds United's FA Cup stalemate with the Pilgrims, but as Daniel Farke cheekily pointed out, there's something even worse still.
By Graham Smyth
A 1-1 draw in Saturday's Elland Road tie wasn't quite the
last thing Farke needed, with some long away days coming up and a Saturday
February 17 lunchtime league visit to Plymouth already in the books. Defeat was
the last thing he wanted, insisting on Friday that he'd rather take a replay
and another 640-mile round trip to Home Park than an exit from the competition.
There was no way he could dress up the draw and resulting additional fixture,
in an already hectic season, as a good result but handily there was a worse
fate to point to.
"It's not a non-league side or even the sixth tier,
even a side from the sixth tier can win on this level, as we've learned
today," he quipped in his post-match press conference, pointing squarely
at his long-time rivals Ipswich Town. The Tractor Boys were dumped out of the
cup by National League South outfit Maidstone United, at Portman Road no less,
in one of the day's early kick-offs.
Drawing with Plymouth, having been a goal to the good and in
complete control of the game, was still a blow however, even if Farke was not
minded to go in two-footed on his team. He made six changes, which was perhaps
always going to mess with the rhythm of a side in good form, handing
opportunities to players who haven't had many of late. Therein lay the biggest
disappointment because though you can lead a horse to water, you cannot make it
drink.
Farke is a big believer in creating a meritocracy, where
chances are earned, deserved and not freely given. Charlie Cresswell was back
in the matchday squad having cleared the air with his manager, but the pre-game
message from Farke was clear - the door might be open again, you'll still have
to prove yourself worthy to walk through it. The centre-back, named among the
substitutes, was never going to start simply because this was only a cup game.
Leeds named two goalkeepers to make up the bench, because as easy as it might
have been to call up an Under 21 outfield player, Farke has evidently not been
significantly impressed to include them in his plans.
Others did get chances though, because Farke did need to
rest some bodies, because Leeds have injuries and because those coming in have
evidently done enough to earn a spot. Willy Gnonto, another who had to bend to
the manager's rules earlier this season, came into the side, along with Joel
Piroe, Jamie Shackleton, Sam Byram, Liam Cooper and Jaidon Anthony. This was a
golden opportunity to do what the likes of Patrick Bamford and Ilia Gruev have
done in recent weeks, and change Farke's mind on his first-choice XI.
There was a big cheer for Gnonto as he won his first tackle
of the afternoon. There were groans for his first, horribly mis-hit shot from
20 yards and then gasps as he crashed the ball off the crossbar, via the gloves
of Conor Hazard. Beyond that flurry of early action, Gnonto made little noise
for the rest of the afternoon. Piroe's story was a similar one, it just played
out in reverse because his notable involvement came late on. Neither man really
grabbed their opportunity with both hands.
Anthony, at least, provided the highlight of the tie. The
winger looked dangerous early on. He had run onto a Georginio Rutter pass to
strike the post in the seconds before Gnonto rattled the woodwork. And having
duly readjusted his sights, he danced his way into the area and unleashed a
beautiful curling effort into the far corner of Hazard's net. It was perfect
precision. The t-shirt he unveiled in celebration and tribute to his
recently-passed mother Donna read: "Rest in perfect peace mum." A
perfect moment, spoiled only by a yellow card from referee Lewis Smith.
The goal was the least Leeds deserved, because they assumed
total control in the first half. A central midfield of Ethan Ampadu and Gruev
clamped down on the visitors, keeping them pinned into their own half. All they
lacked as they moved Plymouth around with ease was a second, killer goal, but
as the sides went off for the break there was no sense that this one would take
a turn.
Leeds once again dominated possession from the outset in the
second half, albeit lessening their grip on proceedings just a little. Plymouth
won a corner, then another, and then midway through the half came a Byram
goal-line header away from an equaliser. Ryan Hardie knocked the ball over
Illan Meslier and watched in agony as Leeds' left-back got there to nod it
away.
The longer it went without a second for Leeds, the more
Plymouth grew in belief and by finding the net they made it a real cup tie.
Shackleton went off chasing possession and when he didn't win it the visitors
were able to break down his flank. Everyone else got pulled towards the ball,
including Byram, and it went into space that Adam Randell suddenly occupied to
beat Meslier, Anthony trailing in his wake.
In the 17 minutes that remained Leeds had chances aplenty to
put themselves in the fifth round, properly, but they didn't take them. Bamford
came on to bring a fine stop from Hazard with his first touch and Gruev brought
an even better one a minute later with a wonderstrike from distance. Piroe,
quiet for the most part, sparked to life with a volley that sailed wide.
Bamford missed the target too from a few yards out, with he and Mateo Joseph
competing for the same loose ball. When that didn't go in, minds turned
reluctantly to a trip to Plymouth. Another one.