"Should have" - Leeds United fans on Crystal Palace draw, 'woeful' observation, saviours and changes view
Leeds United fans have their say on Sunday’s goalless draw against Crystal Palace.
Leeds United kept their unbeaten run going with Sunday’s goalless draw at home to Crystal Palace - but what did the club’s fans think? Here is what our YEP Jury had to say.
DAVID WATKINS
A disappointing way to end this first segment of the season, especially in a game most fans expected Leeds to win.
There was a touch of old-school Leeds about this one, frustrating us just when another win would have really put the icing on the cake of a fine first five games.
Maybe Palace have turned a corner, but they came into this game with one of the worst records in the calendar year of 2026 – only Spurs have won fewer points, and so it feels like a chance missed to bag another three points.
That said, every Premier League game can bring a surprise as we’ve seen this weekend, so another point, a clean sheet, and maintaining that unbeaten start isn't too dismaying.
There were few real chances for either side, but the one big one that fell for Leeds came in the second half when Dominic Calvert-Lewin latched onto a low James Justin cross, connected well but hit it straight at Benitez; in the form DCL has been in lately, he would have expected to score.
James Trafford had only one save that tested him – a Pino free-kick heading for the bottom corner until Trafford dived to push it away.
Man of the match: James Trafford for a faultless afternoon.
KEITH INGHAM
Leeds United went into the international break still unbeaten thanks to a smart second-half save by James Trafford, some heroic last-ditch blocks by defenders and woeful finishing by Palace.
It wasn’t the best display by Leeds but an absorbing 90 plus minutes.
The first half whistled through with a couple of half chances for both sides but it remained scoreless at the break. Palace did not give our midfield a minute's peace and looked good on the break.
The second half bristled with chances and a few goalmouth scrambles involving both sides.
Palace thought they’d got the opener but an offside decision stopped their celebrations.
Leeds could, and should have got the winner – Jayden Bogle got behind the Palace defence to give Dominic Calvert-Lewin a chance but Walter Benitez spread himself superbly to deny Leeds’ number 9.
We’ve played some good teams previously and despite previous form Palace were another one, they matched, and in periods, bettered their hosts and might think they let two points slip.
Leeds will probably be really happy with four points out of two home games and staying unbeaten.
Man of the match: Tarik Muharemovic.
NEIL GREWER
A fair result from a game with few chances with Leeds lacking intensity and accurate passing.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin had the single decent Leeds chance but his connection to James Justin's lovely cross put the ball directly at the Palace keeper.
Generally service to the striker was poor.
At the other end, Palace were thwarted by several last-ditch tackles and blocks by Tarik Muharemovic and Nico Elvedi.
James Trafford also made a decent save from a free-kick and was thankfully less casual on the ball than the previous game.
Daniel Farke changed formation to 4-4-2 in an attempt to win the game but substitutes Dan James and Brenden Aaronson lacked physicality and nous against strong defenders.
Jean-Matteo Bahoya was given a strangely brief debut in added time, but to no avail.
Too many Leeds players were below their recent high standards and perhaps the missing Harry Wilson could have made a difference, however a nine-point haul from five unbeaten games and fifth place in the table is a tremendous position to be in.
The hope for the next few weeks is that none of the players on international duty return injured.
Man of the match: James Trafford (defensively faultless).
EVAN SEAMAN
Leeds United lacked a cutting edge in the game and Nico Elvedi was caught ball-watching and Crystal Palace’s Daichi Kamada was there, but his shot couldn’t get past the gloves of James Trafford.
I thought that Leeds struggled to keep possession and did not manage a shot on target after 30 minutes, much to the frustration of the home fans.
Palace were playing well and Tyrick Mitchell thought he’d scored, but the referee ruled it out because winger Anan Khalaili was deemed to be marginally offside.
Leeds had an opportunity to score after a lovely bit of skill from Jayden Bogle who passed it to James Justin before he crossed to Dominic Calvert-Lewin, but Walter Benitez made a good save.
Not long afterwards, Palace were looking dangerous on the counter attack but Tarik Muharemovic made an outstanding tackle to prevent Eddie Nketiah from scoring.
Leeds huffed and puffed but there wasn’t much quality as Palace successfully nullified the attacking threat of Calvert-Lewin.
The result means Leeds remain unbeaten in the first five games for the first time, but drop down to fifth in the table.
Man of the match: Ethan Ampadu.
MIKE GILL
Crystal Palace came to Elland Road for a point and, but for the grace of VAR, came away with one point and not three.
As so often happens after an epic game like the Newcastle one, what follows is an anti-climax.
The game was a triumph for defence coaches and mathematicians but almost devoid of entertainment.
The second half started more positively with Palace on the attack and the Eagles had the better of the few chances that were created.
Yeremy Pino, Jefferson Lerma and Daichi Kamada all came close before Tyrick Mitchell put the ball in the net.
The game was about to restart when VAR judged Anan Khalaili to be offside and Elland Road breathed a collective sigh of relief.
United’s best chance came when Dominic Calvert-Lewin hit the ball goalward only for Walter Benitez to stretch and deny him.
Throughout the game, Anton Stach and Ethan Ampadu fed the opposing penalty area with a succession of corners and throw-ins but the Palace defence was far too well organised.
At least United go into the international break unbeaten, in ninth place and with the joint best defensive record.
Man of the match: Ethan Ampadu.