Leeds United away end injury, Meslier gesture, Ampadu wind-up and off-camera Luton Town moments — YEP 6/4/25
By Graham Smyth
The YEP’s take and off-camera moments from Saturday’s 1-1
draw at Luton.
Leeds United's Saturday got a little better as it went on
thanks to the Sheffield United result, but yet another early kick-off came and
went without the win they so badly want.
The game at Luton Town was widely expected to be an ugly,
physical affair and the Hatters practically promised as much with club captain
Tom Lockyer suggesting in his programme notes that they had to make life as
difficult as possible for the visitors.
They certainly gave it a good go and though Leeds defended a
lot of the balls into their box, the nature of the game made it hard for Daniel
Farke's players to play their normal football.
In the end, a 1-1 draw was just about a fair result - both
sides missed a good chance to win it in the second half - but at full-time the
point was what neither team really wanted.
Here's the YEP take.
Good day
Karl Darlow
He had relatively little to do but the situation required
him to do everything with a minimum of fuss to take the recent goalkeeping
narrative away from the team. That's what Darlow managed with his couple of
saves, catches and kicking. The last thing Farke needed was for the new number
one to throw in a few mistakes and add fuel to the fire. There's enough to
debate about this Leeds team right now so a quiet day on the goalkeeping front
was welcome.
Bad day
Willy Gnonto
Finally given a start at number 10, yet the Italian
international could make no headway and was eventually replaced by Patrick
Bamford. It wasn't a game for a small, technical number 10. Nor would it have
been a game for Brenden Aaronson in truth. Gnonto was man marked for the vast
majority of his appearance and couldn't free himself to get on the ball to
create. He was also responsible for one of the losses of possession in the
build-up to Luton's goal. At least his manager suggested that he won't be too
harshly judged on that one appearance in the new position.
Ao Tanaka
Having spent so long coasting through games looking a cut
above the Championship the midfielder is suddenly struggling to avoid mistakes
in key moments. For the second successive outing he has been at the centre of
incidents leading to goals conceded. With Joe Rothwell out injured and Ethan
Ampadu potentially required to drop back into centre-half, Tanaka needs to
rediscover his form almost immediately.
Off-camera
Darlow drawing applause from goalkeeping coach Ed Wootten
and Alex Cairns for a fingertip save onto the post during the warm-up.
Ampadu and Pascal Struijk leading the outfield players
straight to the away end as they emerged from the tunnel and laying down
wreaths and a shirt with 'Chris and Kev 25' on the back, before a moment of
applause with the supporters.
Illan Meslier having his own moment with the away supporters
as he headed to the touchline to send crosses in for Darlow. A ripple of
applause turned into a nice reception and the goalkeeper reciprocated the
gesture.
Cairns and Meslier interested spectators as the Luton
goalkeepers were put through their paces in the warm-up, the Frenchman putting
his arm around Cairns as they pointed out various things.
Cairns sending a shot over the bar and into the Leeds fans
during the warm-up before raising an apologetic hand. Tanaka did the same twice
in quick succession but offered no apology as fitness coach Chris Domogalla
shot him a look. A stray shot into the stand behind the goal led to an
unfortunate injury and a trip to hospital for one Leeds fan.
Billionaire heir Pete Lowy regaling Eddie Gray's grandson
with his Bramall Lane away end tale.
Meslier and the Leeds bench jumping to their feet as Ampadu
smashed into a challenge to put Leeds on the front foot. Ampadu turning,
grinning and nodding at the furious Luton fans after he went down and
embellished some contact in what was a foul.