Manager Marcelo Bielsa took his Leeds United first team to Hillsborough to face Sheffield Wednesday in the Yorkshire derby on Friday evening.
Having promised pre-game that he wouldn’t change the squad, was anyone that surprised to see the gaffer stick to his word?
Some fans, like me, wondered if it was a mini-mind game where he meant the matchday squad wouldn’t change rather than the starting XI following defeat to Birmingham City as our unbeaten run this year came to an end, but it’s a hell of a way to show faith in the players – especially as Bielsa was at pains almost to take the loss on his shoulders.
It almost panned out as well as Leeds once again dominated possession and we had a total of 25 efforts on goal across the game, but our Achilles heel is in getting only seven of them on target as we took another point from a game that should’ve yielded more.
We continue to be without a recognised striker though, so there’s every reason for hope for the future that these chances will be converted if we can maintain the performances, so absolutely no reason for a meltdown or panic.
Hillsborough
Championship
28/09/2018 7:45 pm
Attendance: 26717
Referee: Jones
Sheffield Wednesday | Leeds United | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Reach (45) | Klich (54) | ||||||
Dawson | Peacock-Farrell | ||||||
Lees | Ayling | ||||||
Hector | Jansson | ||||||
Thorniley | Cooper | ||||||
Baker | 59 | Douglas | |||||
Pelupessy | Phillips | ||||||
Bannan | Harrison | ||||||
Penney | Saiz | 90 | |||||
Reach | Klich | ||||||
Fletcher | 77 | Alioski | |||||
Forestieri | 81 | Roberts | |||||
Substitutes |
|||||||
Palmer | 59 | Forshaw | 90 | ||||
Onomah | Dallas | ||||||
Nuhiu | 77 | Pearce | |||||
Lucas Joao | 81 | Blackman | |||||
Wildsmith | Baker | ||||||
Rice | Shackleton | ||||||
Preston | Clarke |
Game Statistics |
||
10 | Goal attempts | 25 |
4 | On Target | 7 |
3 | Corners | 11 |
14 | Fouls | 9 |
2 | Yellow Cards | 1 |
0 | Red Cards | 0 |
36 | % | 64 |