Leeds United news as Dion Dublin highlights Crystal…

Leeds United news as Dion Dublin highlights Crystal Palace change that swung Sunday's game

Here are the latest Leeds United morning headlines on Monday, 10 October.

Dublin highlights change that cost Leeds

Dion Dublin has pinpointed the second half tactical change from Crystal Palace that swung the game away from Leeds United. The Whites were dominant for almost all of the opening 45 minutes and will have been frustrated to head into the interval at 1-1.

However, it was very much a game of two halves as Palace took control to take all three points thanks to Eberechi Eze’s goal 14 minutes from time. Speaking on Match of the Day 2, Dublin claimed that Palace’s willingness to play more direct helped them beat the Leeds press and secure the win.

He said: “I think Palace tried to play their way out of trouble from the back very early on but they realised that Leeds were doing this [pressing high] from the get-go, for a good hour, 65-70mins. They set these traps for Palace, Palace obliged and it just wasn’t working for them. They’ve got a man each, you can see them under pressure, they’re forcing Palace down one side.

“This happened two or three times and is done on the training pitch, hour after hour. Force them down one side and get them to play a ball into an area where you know one of your teammates is. They just couldn’t get out, Leeds did it brilliantly.

“Then they realised if we play a couple of short passes, then go long it might just work and they started to do it. Playing a few passes in behind, not really getting any joy from it but what happens is Leeds have to make the pitch a little bit bigger, there’s more space for Palace to play and then we think we can play now.

“Leeds are thinking if we play a high line they might get in because they’ve got a lot of pace, and it started to work for Palace. Then they got a bit of joy, balls on the floor, playing little one-twos. Leeds are getting tired as they’ve been squeezing for 70mins. They had to be patient Palace and figure out a way to get past the press.”

Plane evacuation

Leeds United were forced to make an emergency evacuation from the plane that flew them home from Crystal Palace. The Whites had landed safely at Leeds Bradford airport when the incident occurred, with people on board the aircraft reporting a smell of 'burning rubber'.

All members of the travelling party from the 2-1 defeat at Palace were able to exit promptly, before being transported away from the plane. Other flights behind Leeds were reportedly told to circle before the situation was dealt with, which thankfully, was done.

According to the Daily Mail, the club have 'played down' the incident as minor, confirming that everyone involved was able to exit the aircraft safely.

Talking points

The slump goes on

At half-time, Leeds United’s trip to Crystal Palace was similarly poised to the previous week’s clash with Aston Villa. The matches were level and Leeds had shown enough to believe they could go on and take victory in each match.

If holding on for a draw with 10 men against Steven Gerrard’s side was the silver lining on a frustrating day at Elland Road, it became the stick to beat a losing 11-man United side with at Selhurst Park. For all of their resilience against Villa, the Whites were poor in Croydon, verging on a full-blown collapse.

The start had been impressive. The intensity of the pressing in the opening 25 minutes, and the alarm caused in the Palace backline, was enough to remind yourself a lot can change in football in the space of a week.

Read the rest of this morning's talking points here.

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