The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Wednesday 4th March) Black Cats win on road for first time since October against tired Leeds
Good Morning. It's Wednesday 4th March, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Black Cats win on the road for first time since October against tired Leeds
It was a frustrating night for Whites fans at Elland Road last night, with skipper Ethan Ampadu costing Leeds survival hopes dear, after giving away a totally unnecessary penalty half way through the second half of their drab affair with Sunderland last night. From the opening whistle, the match felt goalless slog, with Daniel Farke’s men looking visibly drained after their recent shift against Manchester City.
The deadlock finally broke in the 70th minute, but not in the way the home crowd expected. Usually reliable, Ethan Ampadu suffered a rare lapse in judgment when the ball struck his arm in the box, allowing Diarra to drive his spot kick down the middle past Karl Darlow, who dived out the way. It felt like a gut-punch for a Leeds side already stewing over a disallowed Joe Rodon header which almost broke the cross-bar minutes earlier.
Leeds had also been denied a spot kick of their own after Luke O’Nien grabbed Pascal Struijk by the neck and wrestled him to the ground, but the appeals (just like their execution in the final third) were half hearted. That's not to say that the effort wasn't there; Daniel Farke's side dominated the statistics, including an xG of 2.17, with the Black Cats offering a meagre 0.7, only by way of their penalty - an indication why they hadn't won on the road since the end of October.
Social media lit by by anxious Leeds fans
It’s getting increasingly difficult to blame the Elland Road faithful for hitting the panic button. After last night’s performance, social media was ablaze with Whites fans venting their frustrations on 'X,' and the consensus is pretty clear: Leeds are their own worst enemy. From giving away soft penalties to haemorrhaging late goals, the habit of shooting themselves in the foot has become a trademark!
The statistics tell a sobering story that backs up the fans anxiety. Daniel Farke’s side looked physically and mentally shattered last night, slumping to their third loss in six games. When you zoom out, the picture gets even bleaker; with only three wins in thirteen and a defensive line that hasn't secured a clean sheet in eleven matches, the foundation for survival is looking incredibly shaky.
While they caught a massive break over the weekend with other results tilting in their favour following the Manchester City loss, but this is outside their influence, and given their rotten luck I'm sure fellow Whites supporters would prefer not to leave their destiny to chance. Without the January reinforcements Leeds are running on fumes - it remains to be seen whether they can make it over the line come come May 24th when they travel to a rejuvenated West Ham.