Leeds United star consoled, Elland Road changes and Willy Gnonto demeanour in off-camera moments vs Brentford — YEP 31/8/26

By Lee Sobot

The YEP’s take and off-camera moments from Leeds United’s 1-1 draw against Brentford at Elland Road.

Leeds United eventually fought back to claim a 1-1 draw against a Brentford side tipped for the top six in Sunday’s first home game of the new Premier League season at Elland Road.

A Brentford side that had scored 20 goals in their last four games including the club’s final two friendlies dominated the first half and the Bees deservedly led at the break through a very clever finish from the impressive Kevin Schade.

 

Leeds, though, eventually got going in the second half after a raft of changes made by boss Daniel Farke, Dominic Calvert-Lewin converting substitute Lukas Nmecha’s sharp cross to ensure the game finished all square.

It essentially proved a good day for United’s substitutes but not for two starters. Here’s the YEP’s take including some off-camera moments amid the ongoing Elland Road expansion.

Good day

Lukas Nmecha

All five of United’s substitutes had positive impacts on the game to varying degrees but it was clearly Nmecha who impressed the most.

It’s hard to see the German striker starting in front of Dominic Calvert-Lewin if Farke continues to play with one upfront but United’s head coach decided to play the pair together for the final 21 minutes in a front two and the move soon worked the oracle.

Nmecha had quite clearly had his Weetabix as the striker quickly began charging about the pitch and he probably should have had an assist even before setting up Calvert-Lewin for his goal after earlier playing Dan James through.

Leeds looked much better after the system change and Nmecha’s display definitely provides food for thought, as does the formation change.

Bad day

Jaka Bijol and Brenden Aaronson

It has to be said that nobody excelled from a Leeds United point of view in a very disappointing first half display, albeit against a side who might well end up in the top six this season or at the very least near it.

But Bijol and Aaronson undoubtedly struggled in the first half and it was no surprise that Farke took off both players during the break as Harry Wilson and Ao Tanaka were introduced.

After the earlier introduction of Nico Elvedi for the injured Joe Rodon, that meant Leeds switching to a back four as Elvedi partnered the excellent Tarik Muharemovic at the heart of the defence and the Whites looked all the better for that change.

Wilson, meanwhile, also had some decent moments cutting in from the right flank and his first goal contribution looks imminent.

No surprise if Wilson and Elvedi now start at Brighton.

Off camera moments

A real buzz outside Elland Road in the hours leading up to kick-off, the place a hive of activity with a brass band playing and two huge queues of fans waiting to get into the Centenary Pavilion.

Plenty of fans getting a first look at changes inside Elland Road amid the ongoing redevelopment ground work, the new dugouts in particular getting a lot of attention. They look very smart but are uncovered, at least at present anyway. Nothing wrong with a bit of rain though. The ongoing work also meant changes to how the press and various others entered the ground but all seemed to go pretty swimmingly on that front.

James Trafford saluting the fans and applauding them as he headed out for his first Premier League warm up at Elland Road as Whites no 1. The record signing was then quickly making some smart stops in the warm up and, more importantly, in the game itself. He also touched the post before kick-off, a superstition/good luck ritual perhaps?

Willy Gnonto all smiles in the warm up. If he is about to leave the Whites for Fiorentina then you wouldn’t know it and the YEP understands that nothing is agreed at present and that he would only be allowed to go if someone else comes in.

An absolutely incredible number of yellow away shirts inside a packed Elland Road. The shirt is so popular that five chaps in a row sat just below us were all wearing one, as part of a sea of yellow and white and incredible atmosphere inside Elland Road.

Joe Rodon’s anguish as he quickly sank to the floor and covered his face upon injuring his hamstring in the first half. He clearly knew straight away that he’d done some damage and the crowd singing “there’s only one Joe Rodon” as he trudged off around the pitch was a nice touch, as too was Brentford boss Keith Andrews consoling Rodon as he passed him with a small hug and pat on the back. Andrews also had very nice words to say about Leeds in his post-match presser and probably won a few new admirers. Good manager, good side.

News emerging that Italy boss Roberto Mancini was coming to the game to watch Brentford’s Michael Kayode. Whether Mancini made it is unclear but he’s clearly watching and that will go for Gnonto too although the Whites winger was ultimately an unused substitute.

An absolutely massive storm featuring dramatic thunder and lightning a few hours after full time which left enormous puddles outside Elland Road. Good job Farke wasn’t in the dugout.