The need for a win is starting to grow at Leeds United after their Carabao Cup campaign came to an end without ever really getting started.
A 3-0 defeat to Middlesbrough made for a painful mid-week outing for Daniel Farke’s side as a much-changed team put in a performance to forget against fellow Championship opposition. Middlesbrough went ahead shortly after half-time through Anfernee Dijksteel before Delano Burgzorg doubled their lead in the 60th minute.
Josh Coburn then wrapped up the win for the visitors in the 67th minute.
Here, The Athletic picks out three big talking points for Leeds after their second game of the new season.
Is the post-play-off pressure starting to mount?
The wait for a post-Wembley win continues and pressure is mounting on Farke and his team. After an impressive and near-perfect pre-season, expectation was high. But neither of their competitive performances this season has been convincing. Defeat to Middlesbrough in a cup competition that Leeds are never likely to win — or prioritise while they target promotion — is no great concern in isolation but the nature of the defeat was jarring.
Leeds’ second-string side were given a chance as Farke made eight changes from the first game of the season. Few would have predicted such a heavy defeat against opponents who were also not at full strength. There is one mercy to the defeat — Leeds now have fewer games ahead of them, allowing them to fully focus on the league.
The result made apparent that the current starting XI can rest easy, based on the showing put in by their deputies in the cup. More depth in bodies and quality is needed before the end of the transfer window, with the result already nearly past the point of a comeback when a batch of the starters from the weekend came on as substitutes in the second half. Leeds conceded their third just a minute later.
Middlesbrough fans celebrating behind Farke (George Wood/Getty Images)
Last season’s slow start in the league stands as a reminder of the fine margins that can come back to haunt you in a tight promotion race. Leeds will need to put the ghosts of last season behind them sooner rather than later, starting with an improved performance and result against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
A first win will do wonders to bury the memory of last season’s near-miss.
“The players don’t have to be too critical,” Farke said. “I spoke several times about my ideas about rotation. I don’t think rotating withing two or three days in eight or nine positions is healthy for the group especially not in the beginning of the season. I’m a big believer in not rotating too much in the beginning of the season to allow the players to find the rhythm. The players don’t have to be too self-critical or dwell on it because it was my decision.
“We need to rest some players today, for example like Daniel James, who had an injury during pre-season or Mateo Joseph, who is a young player who sometimes needs a rest because he plays with such intensity. I had a feeling that we had some players there who needed some minutes because they are not 100 per cent there yet. I risked this game a little bit by having eight or nine rotations, I was hoping we would still find a way to be successful.
“We risked it today, it wasn’t the players that are the reason. If someone has to be self-critical then it has to be me, I am the reason we won’t win the Carabao Cup this season.”
What’s going wrong with Leeds’ defence?
Farke wants his backline to be the best in the league this season — but they have now leaked six goals in two games. A strong defensive record will be crucial if Leeds are to win promotion from the Championship. They came close to that last season with an impressive ability to keep goals out — at least until the late season crumble.
Things could not have got off to a worse start in their opening two games of the season. They conceded three frustrating goals against Portsmouth in their 3-3 draw and three more poor moments cost them against Boro. Though they were able to hold off Middlesbrough in the first half, the floodgates opened in the second half as Leeds forgot the basics. The first two goals from Anfernee Dijksteel and Delano Burgzorg came as Leeds failed to pick up runners or protect the ball well enough in midfield.
Max Wober — hardly popular at Elland Road — did little to improve his case in a shaky showing. Farke’s five changes in one go with the score at 2-0 saw defensive reinforcements arrive in Jayden Bogle and Pascal Struijk but Leeds were further punished when Josh Coburn turned in Isaiah Jones’ shot from close range.
Wober had a tough game (George Wood/Getty Images)
It is now three goals conceded in both of their opening games, both played at Elland Road.
“In the second half we were not great and everyone right now has the right to be critical and to be disappointed, so are we,” Farke said. “But everyone knows that is normally not us because we are pretty good at defending, we had the most clean sheets last season and a brilliant pre-season without conceding many.
“But we have had two strange games against Portsmouth and now (Middlesbrough), we have conceded too many goals. We need to make sure we are more rock solid than we were today, especially in those 25 minutes. We know this and we are capable of doing this.”
Was this evidence Leeds need more depth out wide?
After an early period of intensity between the two sides, the tempo soon dropped off and Leeds lacked creativity where they usually thrive: out wide. With Joe Gelhardt starting on the right and Brenden Aaronson on the left, it was a good chance for both players to impress and make a case for more regular game time. It is now clear Willy Gnonto and Dan James are unlikely to be unseated any time soon.
Gelhardt had the brighter game of the two, with neither naturally calling themselves wide players. He linked up well with Patrick Bamford and Joel Piroe in the few glimmers of attacking intent that Leeds showed in the first half. By contrast, Middlesbrough had joy in wide areas, particularly down the right as they attacked Aaronson and Firpo. The left-back was often left overloaded.
Boro’s opening goal came from Anfernee Dijksteel attacking down that flank and cutting inside for an easy finish past Karl Darlow, highlighting Leeds’ limitations in playing a 4-3-3 without their natural wingers. Adding another wide player looked important after the sale of Crysencio Summerville to West Ham seven days before the season opener against Portsmouth and it looks even more important now. The Championship season is long and the risk of injuries will be a concern, even if there are fewer games on the fixture list now that Leeds are out of the Carabao Cup.
What next for Leeds?
A return to league action with a trip to West Brom on Saturday at 12.30pm (7.30am ET), which will be shown on Sky Sports.
(Top photo: George Wood/Getty Images)
