A few Leeds United fans have been reacting on social media after LUFC Data shared a stat showing the amount of goals we have conceded from set-pieces in the Championship so far this season.
Marcelo Bielsa’s men may have lost our first game in more than two months when beaten at Fulham on Saturday, but the squad remain the league-leaders when it comes to fewest goals conceded, having allowed just 15 in 23 games.
However, a staggering 46.7% of the 15 allowed have come from set-pieces – the third-highest percentage in the second-tier – with only six open play moves and one counter-attack leading to Kiko Casilla picking the ball of out his net.
Of the eight non-open play or counter-attack goals conceded, two have come as a result of penalties and five have come from corners – just one shy of our total allowed from corners throughout the whole of last season.
Some fans have reacted to this stat by suggesting that our weaknesses defending corner routines is an after-effect of Pontus Jansson’s departure in the summer, having been a towering presence in our backline throughout the 2018/19 term.
Are we still missing Jansson?
Yes, absolutely
Yes, but only on corners
No, we've been solid without
Jansson made 37 appearances during the regular Championship campaign last term, and ended the season with 191 aerial duels won – the 11th most in the division for centre-backs, per WhoScored data.
The 28-year-old also blocked the ninth-most shots (38) as we secured a place in the Play-Offs.
Here are some of the messages shared as fans reacted to the stat showing the number of goals we have conceded from set-pieces so far this season…
And neither of the penalties were penalties
— Jim Barry (@jbarrytulla) December 22, 2019
Wow, that’s remarkable, feels bad but actually not so.
— Sean Brittain (@SeanBrittain) December 22, 2019
Guess this is the cost of losing pontus, but would of thought Ben whites play makes up for the goals conceeded from corners? 🤷♂️
— Flash (@gordy_97) December 22, 2019
We saw this early on in the season, it was pretty clear we’d struggle without Jansson at set pieces. Calculated gamble by Bielsa but a quick look at the table and you can hardly start panicking. All sides have a weakness, look at Man City v counter attacks.
— Ash Cook (@ashcook4) December 22, 2019
6″4 Pontus Jansen was the difference there.
— Jonny (@cyclingjonny) December 22, 2019
The amount of times Jansson won headers from corners was a joke. We do miss that side of him
— Teejay White (@teejaybess) December 22, 2019
In other Leeds United news, is has been claimed that the club’s pursuit of a free-scoring attacker has hit the rocks.