Leeds United hosted Middlesbrough at Elland Road earlier this evening for the top of the Championship table clash even though the 2018/19 campaign is still in the very early stages.
Both sides went into the game having taken 13 points from the opening five games in the second tier but we just cancelled them out and they returned the favour under known ‘defensive minded’ Tony Pulis.
He’ll certainly be happier than we will on the back of that showing and both teams only managed to test the opposition goalkeeper three times apiece, but we did dominate possession which is something.
It was, however, largely a game to forget for fans but if we are groping for positives, Pulis sides have a tendency to nick games and we frustrated them as much as they frustrated us, so again the other side of our game and digging in when we need to – whilst maintaining our focus – came to the fore and there are positives in that even if it’s not great to watch.
It bodes well that we are taking points when not at the top of our game, whatever the reasons for that might be.
Elland Road
Championship
31/08/2018 7:45 pm
Attendance: 35417
Referee: Robinson
Leeds United | Middlesbrough | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Peacock-Farrell | Randolph | ||||||
Ayling | Ayala | ||||||
Berardi | 88 | Flint | |||||
Cooper | Fry | ||||||
Douglas | Shotton | ||||||
Phillips | Besic | ||||||
Harrison | 92 | Clayton | |||||
Saiz | Friend | ||||||
Klich | Downing | ||||||
Alioski | Howson | ||||||
Roofe | 90 | Assombalonga | |||||
Substitutes |
|||||||
Bamford | 90 | Konstantopoulos | |||||
Roberts | Leadbitter | ||||||
Dallas | 92 | Braithwaite | |||||
Jansson | 88 | Hugill | |||||
Pearce | McQueen | ||||||
Blackman | McNair | ||||||
Baker | Wing |
Game Statistics |
||
11 | Goal attempts | 9 |
3 | On Target | 3 |
6 | Corners | 5 |
11 | Fouls | 16 |
4 | Yellow Cards | 4 |
0 | Red Cards | 0 |
62 | % | 38 |