Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown has told Javi Gracia and Leeds United they must prove last weekend's defeat to Crystal Palace was a one off if they want to survive in the Premier League. The Whites capitulated at Elland Road despite a really bright start to the game.
Keown feels the Whites emptied their tank inside the opening 45 minutes, which lead to their downfall in the second-half. The former Gunners defender says the defeat to the Eagles must now be a wake-up call for Leeds.
"Never has that cliche about a ‘game of two halves’ felt more appropriate than in Leeds v Crystal Palace last Sunday," Keown told the Daily Mail. "The first half was so encouraging for Leeds. They were totally dominant, spurred on by their rampant supporters as they pressed well and played with plenty of width.
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"The full backs, Luke Ayling and Junior Firpo, were flying, and midfielders Weston McKennie and Marc Roca were landing tackles like heavyweight boxers throwing punches. Forwards Luis Sinisterra, Patrick Bamford and Jack Harrison were peppering Palace’s goal with shots.
"But the second half was a capitulation, one of the worst seen in Premier League history. There was no desire, no urgency and no composure. Leeds might as well have turned off the lights at Elland Road and gone home at half-time, so disastrous was their display after the break.
"It was as if they had covered so much distance in the first 45 minutes that when it came to the second half, their tank was empty and there was no energy left to play that way. Like Javi Gracia and Leeds’ coaches will have done — painfully, I might add — I watched a replay of the game in its entirety to study how and why this collapse happened.
"Gracia’s team now have two tough games, against Liverpool and Fulham, then follow Leicester and Bournemouth, two sides also in the relegation race. That Palace loss was a huge wake-up call for Leeds.
"They need to provide their back four with protection and not be so obsessed with pressing, which may be a hangover from the Marcelo Bielsa era. Leeds now live in hope that the calamitous collapse against Palace was a one-off as they aim to remain a Premier League club."
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