'We need to adapt' - Leeds United summer signing's honest assessment of recent issues ahead of Man City test

Leeds United defender Gabriel Gudmundsson admits the ability to adapt will be key to his side coming through a difficult period in their Premier League season.

A 2-1 defeat at home to Aston Villa last weekend was Leeds’ fifth in six games and means they will spend at least a week in the Premier League’s bottom three, below West Ham on goal difference. The Whites enjoyed a promising 45 minutes and scored early through Lukas Nmecha but Morgan Rogers’ second-half brace took all three points back to Birmingham.

Daniel Farke is under pressure to turn things around quickly but it doesn’t get any easier for the German, who takes Leeds to title contenders Manchester City on Saturday. They are unlikely to enjoy much possession at the Etihad and Gudmundsson believes his side need to be able to adapt to specific situations if they want success.

"We are all behind everyone in the club,” the £10million summer signing from Lille told BBC Radio Leeds. “We are working to come through. We know we have a plan each game to play with, and it's football; things happen.

“We need to adapt to certain games depending on which team you're playing and their qualities. We have to accept sometimes that we are losing, and when we are winning, we are winning.”

Leeds were much more competitive against Villa than in the weeks before the November international break, as they have often been at Elland Road. Away from home has been a different picture, however, with Wolves the only place they’ve taken points from.

Gabriel Gudmundsson on Leeds United away issues

Consecutive defeats at Brighton and Nottingham Forest before the international break arguably saw Leeds at their worst, offering little going forward while being porous at the back. Such problems will need to be fixed ahead of this weekend if they don’t want to be severely punished by City.

"When we are playing at home, we feel very good - I think everyone can see that as well,” Gudmundsson said. “But when we are playing away, we need to step up. The performances are there, but we just need to make sure we get the points.

"It's such a good group of players. We are so close to each other and want to help each other all the time. We are not focusing on [poor results] too much. We know we have a big game ahead, and we are going to help each other.”

Few are expecting Leeds to climb out of the bottom three this weekend, or any time soon given after City they host Chelsea and Liverpool. But even after that difficult trio of fixtures, there are still 23 more opportunities to take points and Gudmundsson is confident the current tide can be turned.

"It's only November and nothing is going to be decided here,” he added. “We are all sticking together and working hard. We know what we can do, we have a good group - and we will figure this out."