Daniel Farke expected better from one Leeds United ace ‘not his best’ in Burnley draw — Leeds United News 27/1/25
Dan Owen
While the pre-match media channels may have attempted to
drum up anticipation ahead of Monday’s clash between two of the Championship’s
top-three sides, anyone expecting a thriller between Leeds United and Burnley
were fooling themselves.
This was, after all, a battle between the team with the best
defensive record in the division. Burnley have conceded only nine goals in 29
matches.
And, on the other side of the coin, a Leeds United team boasting
some ‘ground-breaking’ numbers of their own. Leeds concede around two shots on
target per game on average in England’s second tier.
So, as Leeds and Burnley cancelled each other out on the
night, the eventual 0-0 draw at Turf Moor felt about as inevitable as a
half-baked plot twist at the end of an M Night Shyamalan ‘thriller’.
Though, while pleased with a point which maintains daylight
between Leeds United and second-place Sheffield United – let alone a Burnley
team three points adrift – Daniel Farke could not help wonder what might have
been if Brenden Aaronson had been a little more alert to a ball into the box.
Or, if one of Dan James’ two efforts had found a way past
James Trafford in the Clarets goal.
“A good result. We’ve played a difficult away game against
one of the best sides in this league. Another clean sheet, that’s pretty good,”
Farke said post-match, feeling that his Leeds forwards were perhaps guilty of
over-thinking at times when those rare chances fell their way.
“Our decision making in the opposition’s box, when you face
a team who are this good at defending, you have to anticipate. A cross came in
and Brenden Aaronson was surprised [and didn’t react quickly enough].
“I think we were a bit nervous. With Daniel James, eight out
of ten times, he scores form this angle [when firing across goal in the 18th
minute]. Not his best finish.
“Everyone speaks about how good Burnley are and, when there
is a chance, maybe you are overthinking a little bit. This is the only thing I
can criticise. If we had been a bit more committed [to scoring] or brave, you
could create a few more chances
“Nevertheless, overall we can live with a point.”
The closest Leeds came – the closest either side came,
meanwhile, in a game with only one shot on target – was in the dying embers of
normal time when James brilliantly controlled a bouncing ball and fizzed a
fierce volley towards Trafford’s goal.
The save was a relatively simple one, in truth. At least in
comparison to those two late penalties he kept out against Sunderland a week
earlier.
But, while left with a nagging feeling of wanting more,
Farke can accept a draw on the road against a team who would have drawn level
on points with Leeds had Burnley pulled off a repeat of September’s smash and
grab at Elland Road.
“I expected it would be a difficult game, because Burnley in
possession never take risks,” the former Norwich City boss adds. “They never
allow transition moments. You have to be really patient. They have a pretty
special style of play.
“In this topic, we were top.”