Bad day for Leeds United big names, vehicle trouble and train station anger at Blackburn — YEP 1/12/24
By Graham Smyth
The YEP’s take and off-camera moments from Saturday’s defeat
at Blackburn.
Leeds United suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Blackburn
Rovers for the second consecutive meeting as some of Daniel Farke's big names
struggled to shine.
The Whites were desperately poor in a first half that saw
them go a goal down to Todd Cantwell's penalty. There was increased urgency in
the second half but nothing in the way of an equaliser. Here's the YEP take.
Good day
John Eustace
For the third time in succession he celebrated a 1-0 win
over Daniel Farke's Leeds. And Rovers could argue it was deserved, given the
header against the woodwork and the two golden chances missed by Todd Cantwell.
Rovers did a job on Leeds with their physical defending.
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Bad day
Ao Tanaka
By his standards this season, this was his worst performance
by a distance. The challenge that led to the penalty and the match winner, some
sloppy passes and touches, it was all very uncharacteristic.
Junior Firpo
'Rusty,' was how his manager described his first half
performance. It was far from the standard he's set for himself in the second
tier. It's rare that Farke will criticise an individual but Farke was clearly
not happy with what Firpo produced and the manager still hasn't forgiven or
forgotten the red card at Millwall.
Brenden Aaronson
Though Aaronson covers such a distance for Leeds, the
spotlight will become more and more intense around what he contributes with the
ball at his feet. Against Rovers he really struggled and the physicality
argument reared its ugly head again. The number 10 conversation is not going to
go away any time soon.
Patrick Bamford
He'll have had heroics on his mind when he came on yet all
he left with was a sore head from clashing into his captain Pascal Struijk, a
pair of offside calls and a shot from distance that went wide. It's difficult
to see how he will play himself into rhythm with such little involvement but
it's equally hard to make an argument for a start.
Joel Piroe
He didn't show enough willingness to make the most of the
chance gifted to him and really wasn't a factor in the game. Leeds needed much
more from their centre forward than appearing outside the area to cross for
small wingers waiting in the box.
Mateo Joseph
The youngster continues to struggle to make an impact with
his cameos. This was another that came and went without any real joy for him or
for his team.
Daniel Farke
Another poor away day, another early kick-off that did not
see the best of Leeds - far from it in fact. The manager's ire was directed at
the way his team started but he was unable to change it with his substitutions.
Off-camera
Leeds fans and club officials alike hindered in their
attempts to procure sustenance and drinks as the Ewood Park kiosks all had to
close due to a technical issue with their payment methods. Rovers put an
announcement before the game to explain the situation and it was roundly booed
by the vast visiting support.
Manor Solomon leaving the warm-up temporarily to get
painkillers from a member of the Leeds medical team on the touchline. James
Debayo taking his medicine too, allowing his fellow subs to flick his ear after
he let the ball drop to the ground during their game of keeping it in the air.
The Leeds substitutes losing control of a ball that then
became part of the Blackburn warm-up.
Max Wober and Debayo being called into the final bit of
warm-up routine that the starting XI outfield players do with fitness coach
Chris Domogalla. The reason was back pain reported by Joe Rodon, from which he
recovered.
Rodon making a bursting run, finding Gnonto and then
literally hopping with frustration as the ball went backwards again instead of
out wide into space.
A man and a woman being led out of the home end by stewards
as Rovers fans sang 'we all hate Leeds scum.' The man had to be persuaded to
leave as he engaged in confrontations with those around him who were equally
keen to engage.
A Leeds fan in the away end perfectly heading a stray ball
to the corner flag so Joe Rothwell could deliver a set-piece.
The Leeds United kit van struggling to start in the Ewood
Park carpark. It took several minutes and attempts to get the engine going.
Leeds supporters held by police in the entrance hall of the
train station due to the delayed arrival of the carriages taking them home. The
situation threatened to get nasty and dangerous at points with travellers
attempting to get through to catch trains to alternative destinations. The
anger at being held for so long was palpable.