"Equally as bad" - Leeds United fans on Bournemouth defeat, James Trafford blunder and Whites attack
Leeds United’s fans have their say on the weekend’s defeat at Bournemouth.
Leeds United’s long trip to Bournemouth ultimately ended in just a second defeat of the Premier League season as the Cherries recorded a 2-0 victory - but what did the club’s fans think?
Here is what our YEP Jury had to say.
NEIL GREWER
A disappointing result and one which slightly flattered the hosts whilst reminding Leeds of the harsh realities of the Premier League.
The worst defeat of the season so far from a game which Leeds conspired to turn a potential victory into defeat.
The fist half hour saw Leeds dominant and looking likely to score – indeed DCL did put the ball in the net but was a little unlucky to suffer a VAR handball decision. And then calamity – an under-hit James Trafford pass to Ao Tanaka was intercepted and Bournemouth scored a simple goal.
The first concession from a poor goalkeeper pass since returning to the Premier League...but it’s been coming.
The game turned and Bournemouth took control. Daniel Farke made five substitutions and Leeds created chances but Bournemouth again caught Leeds in possession and slick passes resulted in a goal with the last kick of the game.
In this league, mistakes lead to goals, and you need to take your chances. We can write off the errors as uncharacteristic but Leeds need to be more clinical in front of goal. However, we remain in a strong position in the league.
Man of the match: DCL.
EVAN SEAMAN
Leeds's trip to the seaside on Saturday afternoon ended in Halloween horror as they were well beaten by Bournemouth, 2-0.
The Whites nearly got off to a flyer when James Justin played a brilliant ball to Dominic Calvert-Lewin who bundled it into the net, but the goal was chalked off because the ball struck his arm on its way in, much to the frustration of the away fans.
Then, not long afterwards, keeper James Trafford had a moment to forget when he played the ball straight to Justin Kluivert inside the penalty box and he slid it to the left for Evanilson who scored into an open net.
Bournemouth doubled their lead when Amine Adli scored for them in the fourth minute of injury time after shooting from close range.
Overall, I thought that Bournemouth probably deserved the three points because they were more clinical than Leeds.
This result means Leeds slide down the table to 11th, and there is concern that they could drop down farther if they do not sort out the lack of creativity in midfield.
Man of the match: Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
“The second was almost equally as bad”
DAVID WATKINS
What a disappointing way to lose a game!
Bournemouth is a tough enough place to go at the best of times but particularly now when they are on such a good run and they don’t usually need much help from the opposition, but Leeds’ loss this time was totally self-inflicted.
Okay, we didn’t get the rub of the green either – the correct call for handball against DCL when he finished a sublime one-touch move involving Justin, Bogle and Harry Wilson was unfortunate – but all through the game there were just too many mistakes all over the pitch.
Leeds were the better side in the first half but time and time again promising attacks fell apart for the lack of a decent through ball or an accurate cross. We wasted so may opportunities and, for all our dominance, still managed only a single shot on target before the break.
Then Sod’s Law intervened and a defence that has been so good all season suddenly found a way to mess things up. Folk will inevitably focus on the first goal but the second was almost equally as bad. It is just a shame that we let ourselves down so badly and now the pressure will start to mount until we can put our next win on the board.
Man of the match: No one excelled in this one.
KEITH INGHAM
Leeds left the south coast empty-handed after a disappointing 2-0 defeat against an in-form Bournemouth side, but there will be plenty of frustration among the travelling supporters about how the game unfolded.
Daniel Farke's men actually made a promising start and thought they had taken the lead when Dominic Calvert-Lewin found the net. However, VAR intervened and ruled the goal out for handball.
The turning point arrived on 31 minutes when James Trafford's misplaced pass towards Ao Tanaka presented Bournemouth with an opportunity. Justin Kluivert took advantage, setting up Evanilson, who made no mistake.
Leeds struggled to recover their earlier momentum as Bournemouth grew in confidence. Trafford had further moments of uncertainty but also produced some important saves.
As Leeds pushed forward for an equaliser, Bournemouth struck again in stoppage time, Amine Adli sealing the three points. This was a frustrating afternoon for Leeds; bright start but punished for an individual error and a lack of cutting edge.
No win now since Newcastle back in September; a slight worry with the games coming up. Leeds need a win...soon!
Man of the match: DCL, kept battling and unlucky not to score.
“Showed a few nice touches when he came on”
MIKE GILL
On Saturday we learned the most accurate definition of "being generous to a fault" when the normally flawless footwork of James Trafford lapsed and caused a fatal error.
Prior to this, United had looked very lively and DCL was really unlucky to have his goal disallowed after a lengthy VAR examination.
Up to this point, the Whites had exuded confidence and didn't seem bothered at all by Bournemouth's successful run of results.
It was on the half-hour that Trafford made his uncharacteristic and unnecessary mistake which allowed Evanlison to add to his growing tally of goals.
The Whites fought on but this had become a different sort of a game. It was now an uphill struggle with United's lack of firepower hampering their progress. Lucas Nmecha showed a few nice touches when he came on but it was mostly left to DCL to toil away without much of a return.
When Amine Adli applied the coup de grace in the dying seconds, the game was already lost and the Whites faced the long trip back home with nothing to show for their efforts.
Another stern test awaits as improving Spurs visit Elland Road next Saturday.
Man of the match: Tarik Muharemovic.