Here are all the Leeds United morning headlines on Sunday, March 6.
Ayling calls for reaction after Leicester defeat
The Jesse Marsch era at Leeds ended in defeat despite the Whites dominating Leicester for the majority of the game at King Power Stadium.
The visitors had more than enough chances to pick up what would have been a vital result but Harvey Barnes’ second-half effort proved to be the difference.
Speaking after the game, Luke Ayling - who found himself back in the heart of the defence – expects a reaction from his team mates in the next two matches.
“Us boys know where we are in the league. We’ve got to start winning some games,” he said.
“It’s alright playing well but three points is the most important thing, so we’ll be going into Thursday’s game [against Aston Villa] and be trying to put that right.”
Read everything else the defender had to say after the match here.
Hargreaves unhappy with Marsch’s Leeds salute
Marsch looked keen to make a strong first impression on the travelling supporters at Leicester as he ensured each of the players applauded those who had made the trip from West Yorkshire at full time.
He also got the players and staff in a huddle on the pitch at the end of the game, something that has been widely criticised since.
His final act before taking himself and the players down the tunnel was to give a ‘Leeds salute’ by banging on the club crest, a gesture Owen Hargreaves was not particularly impressed by.
“To be honest I’m not a huge fan either,” the former Manchester United midfielder told Premier League Productions. “I don’t think the players are. They don’t like to huddle up especially after a loss.
“I like the fact that when the game finished he called all the players over to go to the away fans. But pumping the badge…I mean, you’ve only been there a few days.”
Positives to take from opening defeat
While it was a trip that ultimately ended with no Leeds points or goals, it was certainly a strong start to post-Marcelo Bielsa life at Leeds.
As mentioned, they were thoroughly dominant of Leicester and, on another day, could have been two or three goals in front by the time Barnes sent his strike beyond Illan Meslier.
In terms of the Expected Goals (xG), Marsch’s side created the better chances and based on those efforts, their xG total of 2.14 dwarfed their opponents’ 0.35.
According to football statistician John Muller on Twitter, it was their highest expected goal difference of the season.
It was one of many positives that Marsch will have taken from the game but he will know better than anyone that it’s a results business.
The real show of how much he has been able to improve the side in his brief time in charge so far will come in the next two games, against Aston Villa and Norwich at Elland Road in the next seven days.
Read more here.
