Leeds United seeking mojo revival as West Brom display suggests transfer solution – Joe Donnohue’s Verdict
A Georginio Rutter-less Leeds United managed a point against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns on Saturday lunchtime, but were clearly missing the Frenchman’s mojo and vivacious, off-field joie de vivre.
If you’re not scoring goals, but creating chances, the net will eventually bulge – but Leeds didn’t manage either against West Brom and it might have had something to do with the absence of a certain creative player in the middle of the pitch.
Some football matches are quickly forgotten, difficult for supporters, journalists and even those who took part in them, to recall. Leeds’ early season stalemate against the Baggies will surely be one of them.
Eight shots apiece, one on target each, which in Leeds’ case pushes the boundaries of what can be defined as ‘on target’, and 0.70 Expected Goals accrued by both sides. To say United and West Brom cancelled each other out would be an apt description of what was an affair that lacked much in the way of quality and very few, if any, backsides-off-seats moments.
Leeds supporters have endured quite the couple of days with a cup exit to divisional rivals, the imminent sale of star man Georginio Rutter and a fourth consecutive week without a permanent signing all to swallow.
So, perhaps a point away from home against a side they failed to beat last season isn’t such a bad thing; football is a results business after all. There were points in the game where it felt Leeds were merely existing, though, never quite protagonists, but solid enough at the back to allay any fears of an imminent concession.
Joel Piroe replaced the Brighton-bound Rutter in the No. 10 role as he did in midweek but was evidently not the spark United needed. Leeds’ touchpaper was damp, much like the mood in camp upon learning of Georginio’s release clause activation on Wednesday.
Five minutes later, Illan Meslier ended up with the ball at his feet after a Leeds free-kick in the Baggies’ half. This time, there were boos.
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