Leeds United’s winless run was extended to five matches following a 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace on Sunday. The Whites had taken the lead through Pascal Struijk after a dominant start to the game but had the wind blown out of their sails after Odsonne Edouard’s equaliser against the run of play.
Palace came out for the second half a different side and Leeds ultimately failed to regain any of their control of the match, allowing Eberechi Eze to steer home a winning goal. Jesse Marsch’s side have now picked up just two points from their last five matches and have not tasted victory since the 3-0 win over Chelsea in August.
Here is how the national media reported the game.
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‘It could have been a different story’
Ian Herbert of the Daily Mail said: “At the end of it all, Patrick Vieira was a picture of insouciance. There was the shake of a fist as he strolled past the Crystal Palace fans in the late afternoon sunshine and the faintest smile playing across his face. Yet nothing could disguise that this was a win of real significance.
“As Leeds dominated for most of the first half, you wondered where this season was going for him. His side were a goal down and labouring terribly when their goalkeeper dithered in possession and passed it straight to Leeds’ Jack Harrison. Boos rang out.
“Vieira’s contribution to the turnaround was significant, with tactical shifts which were tangible. A more direct second half approach bypassed the relentless pressing which gave Leeds first half superiority.
“The wonderfully talented Michael Olise was released to his more natural position on the right. Leeds’ struggle to maintain their energy levels into the second half helped. Had the returning Patrick Bamford been able to convert an excellent chance with his side already ahead, it could have been a different story. Small margins.
“But in the final reckoning, Palace simply had Wilfried Zaha and Olise – two players on a different level – to deliver themselves from would have been the jaws of the bottom three and leave Leeds asking themselves where all the bright August optimism has gone. The visiting team’s 3-0 win over Chelsea, 50 days ago on Monday felt like a sunny upland. There have been two points from five games since.”
‘Bamford’s miss was to prove a pivotal moment’
Ed Aarons of the Guardian said: “Given that Palace had failed to record a victory since beating Aston Villa here on 20 August and began the game level on points with Wolves in the bottom three, it was no surprise that Vieira opted to go on the attack. But if the prospect of seeing Eze and Michael Olise lining up in central midfield was an exciting one for the home supporters, the reality was not quite as convincing as Leeds took the initiative from the start. A poor back pass from Marc Guéhi that forced goalkeeper Vicente Guaita to give away possession set the tone for a mistake-riddled opening from the hosts that culminated in Struijk’s early breakthrough.
“A brilliant mazy dribble from the outstanding Brenden Aaronson took him past several half-hearted challenges and the American’s curling shot bounced back off the far post into the path of Struijk. His shot was straight at Joel Ward on the goalline but the ball found its way through the Palace captain’s legs and into the net.
“Matters could have been even worse for Vieira had Guaita not come to Palace’s rescue soon afterwards when Bamford was played through on goal.
“Marsch said before kick-off that the striker who ended his loan spell from Chelsea at Selhurst Park early back in 2015, after growing frustrated with a lack of opportunities under Alan Pardew, is in “the strongest condition since I arrived here” but Bamford missed a golden chance to remind Palace fans of what they have been missing when Guaita parried his early shot away to safety.
“A two-goal lead would not have flattered Leeds, such was their dominance, yet Bamford’s miss was to prove a pivotal moment in the eventual outcome.”
‘After conceding the equaliser, Leeds rarely looked like scoring again’
Gary Rose of BBC Sport said: “After avoiding relegation on the final day of last term, Leeds are hoping for a less stressful time in what is boss Jesse Marsch's first full season in charge.
“The West Yorkshire side made an excellent start to the campaign with wins against Wolves and Chelsea in their first three games, but they are now without a win since late August.
“They began this match in dominant form as Palace struggled to deal with them, with Aaronson looking lively and Bamford sharp on his return to the starting XI.
“But set pieces have been a point of concern, and once again they were Leeds' undoing as they failed to pick up Edouard for Olise's free-kick.
“Since the start of last season, they have conceded 20 goals from set pieces, with only Southampton (21), Everton (23) and Leicester (25) letting in more.
“After conceding the equaliser, Leeds rarely looked like scoring again as their struggles on the road continued, and they have now taken just one point in four away games so far this season.”
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