Jordan Henderson says what he thinks of Leeds United in frustrated post-match verdict
The Brentford midfielder saw his goal on Sunday cancelled out by Leeds United’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Jordan Henderson was frustrated his Brentford side couldn’t keep hold of their lead against a strong Leeds United side who have enjoyed ‘good results’ recently.
Leeds came from 1-0 down to draw 1-1 and earn a decent point at the Gtech Community Stadium on Sunday, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin cancelling out Henderson’s opener. The Brentford midfielder put his team ahead against the run of play on 70 minutes, his finish deflecting off Jaka Bijol and beyond Lucas Perri.
Brentford controlled much of the first-half but were pinned back in the second, with Henderson’s goal giving them a foothold that had looked unlikely. But Leeds rallied, with Daniel Farke getting a tune out of his substitutions for the second week running.
Willy Gnonto was introduced on 73 minutes and as Leeds enjoyed a sustained period of pressure, the Italian whipped in a perfect cross that was met by the rising head of Calvert-Lewin. The 28-year-old’s header was perfectly placed to earn his side a big point on the road.
"Once you take the lead I would like to see it out and keep the clean sheet,” Henderson told Match of the Day in the immediate aftermath of Sunday’s stalemate. “At the same time Leeds are a good team and they have got some good results of late.
"Every point in the Premier League is important - they're all tough games. We have been good at home this season so far. Like you say, it is an important point. We need to recover well and get better for the midweek game."
Leeds are just the third visiting Premier League team to get any kind of result at Brentford, joining Chelsea and Manchester City in avoiding defeat. The draw is also just the second time they have left an away ground without losing, having only won at Wolves in September.
West Ham lost 3-2 at home to Aston Villa earlier on Sunday, with Leeds now three points clear of the 18th-placed Hammers. Farke’s side have another full week to recover before hosting Crystal Palace next weekend, their final fixture before Christmas.
Daniel Farke’s reaction to Leeds United point
"I'm still a bit in between, I thought we should have won this game," Farke said of the point after full-time. "It was tight overall but in the crucial statistics, big chances, in possession we were dominating. I wanted to go for it and win it after the late equaliser. It's a really valuable point on the road, they have an amazing home record - we're the first side in ages to travel away with a point.
“It's a good and valuable point, coming back with a late equaliser from a losing position. The feeling was we could have won it. I think a tight first half, I liked the outcome, we didn't allow chances and had probably the better chances but I felt we could have been braver in the pressing and in possession.
"The second half we were excellent, brought the game into their half and pushed to go into the lead. One situation can change the world, didn't clear the ball proper and Henderson was there. Looks like he would have missed it and we scored half an own goal. Sometimes you can't explain how you're 1-0 down. I have to praise our lads, we showed the belief to keep going.
“Really good cross from Willy [Gnonto] and a finish from Dominic [Calvert-Lewin]. The boys have done really, really well, but it feels a bit like they could have rewarded themselves today even with three points. So for that, happy with the point, happy with the performance, happy with many, many things, but still a bit greedy anyhow - I love to win a lot more than draw."