Leeds United owners in town, Farke's official complaints, star man's bad day and off-camera Millwall moments — YEP 7/11/24
By Graham Smyth
The YEP’s take and off-camera moments from Leeds United’s
defeat at Millwall.
Leeds United looked out of sorts and out of ideas at the top
end of the pitch as Millwall handed the Whites a first defeat in nine at The
Den.
Control and dominance of the first half led to little in the
way of clear-cut chances for the visitors but Millwall used their biggest
strength to their advantage and took the lead from a set-piece.
Jake Cooper won the first header and his centre-back partner
Japhet Tanganga took advantage of his freedom in space to volley home.
Millwall's excellence in defending a lead came to the fore
as Leeds huffed and puffed without ever making Lukas Jensen work for his clean
sheet.
Speaking after the game, Daniel Farke said there was no
major concern from the performance, beyond a lack of anticipation and awareness
at both ends of the pitch, but the manner of the defeat raised again worries in
the fanbase over how Leeds respond to being a goal down against a low block.
Here's the YEP take.
Good day
Jake Cooper
The Millwall centre-half is accustomed to winning his
headers and did so repeatedly all evening. Though he was unable to score from
one, he got the assist for the home side's winner. Leeds never really got to
grips with him, as so few sides do.
Bad day
Daniel Farke
The calls for a Plan B only ever come out when Leeds drop
points but this is far from the first time that a team has scored first and
then simply put up a wall. The Whites looked shy of ideas and none of Farke's
changes, whether that was substitutions or a change in formation, did much at
all to help.
Willy Gnonto
At times this season the winger has been Leeds' most
dangerous player but he was off it at The Den. Getting into good positions was
not an issue but what he did when he was there certainly was. A lack of
composure and control at vital moments cost him the chance to make magic and
took away one of Leeds' best hopes of getting something.
Off-camera moments
49ers head honcho Jed York, Leeds United chairman Paraag
Marathe, chief operating officer Morrie Eisenberg and head of football
operations Adam Underwood arriving at Millwall just ahead of the team coach.
Leeds' head of sport science showcasing a killer first touch
as he retrieved footballs for Karl Darlow who was practising his kicking out of
his hand.
Isaac Schmidt racing away from the substitutes' warm-up
rondo in mock celebration after a nutmeg as Josuha Guilavogui took some stick
from Mateo Joseph. Guilavogui got his own back when the subs kept the ball in
the air between them and his header forced Schmidt to scramble for a ball he
couldn't send back in the right direction. The midfielder indicated that was
revenge for the nutmeg and Schmidt jumped on his back.
Max Wober waving goodbye to Sam Byram as he was pulled away
from the rondo to assist in the starting outfielders' possession game.
Millwall fans booing their own light show ahead of the game.
Illan Meslier running up into the Millwall half to have
words with Jayden Bogle as Leeds prepared to take a corner.
Sam Byram and Patrick Bamford trying to gee Gnonto up from
the touchline as they warmed up in the late stages with Leeds chasing the game.