Leeds United lessons learned vs Brentford with astonishing Dominic Calvert-Lewin stat & Daniel Farke hot-streak
The YEP’s key takeaways from Leeds United’s 1-1 Premier League draw at Brentford on Sunday.
Leeds United came from behind to claim a point for the second consecutive game thanks to Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Brentford. Their comeback wasn’t quite as dramatic as Liverpool but equally important, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin cancelling out Jordan Henderson’s opener.
Both goals came in a second-half which Leeds enjoyed the better of and their deserved point opened up a three-point cushion on West Ham United in18th place. Below are the YEP’s lessons learned from Sunday’s game at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Key Brentford man silenced
If Leeds were to get anything from this game then from a defensive point, keeping a strong grip Brentford top-scorer Igor Thiago would be crucial. The Brazilian has been in stellar form this season, his 11 goals comfortably more than any teammate - Dango Ouattara and Kevin Schade each have three. But on Sunday he was virtually anonymous.
Thiago is a pure goalscorer and so keeping him as far away from Lucas Perri was the priority for Joe Rodon, Pascal Struijk and Jaka Bijol. The trio will therefore have been delighted to stop the Brentford frontman from getting a single touch of the ball inside the Leeds box all game, while also failing to let off a single shot. That in itself is enough for the central-defensive unit to receive huge praise.
Leeds United survive weak point
Against Liverpool, Leeds conceded twice in the opening five minutes of the second-half, making the quarter-hour period between minutes 45 and 60 the point in which they are most vulnerable. Ahead of Brentford, Farke admitted it was something they wanted to improve and it must have been on his mind heading back out at Brentford. On Sunday at least, he needn’t have worried.
Leeds not only survived that period but thrived, coming out of the tunnel a much better side than their hosts and dominating much of the play. Chances fell to Calvert-Lewin and Noah Okafor but couldn’t be put away. And the sucker punch came later on, with Henderson’s opener in the 70th minute coming very much against the run of play.
A dismal London record looks set to continue
Leeds were punished for not capitalising when on top as Brentford struck the opener with 20 minutes to go, and it’s unfortunate nature likely had those in the away end consigned to another miserable trip to London. Rico Henry’s cross deflected off Jaka Bijol and right into the path of Henderson, whose effort might even have struck the post were it not for another nick of the Slovenian international, and it was 1-0.
London has been such a terrible place for Leeds to go that it has long become a joke among fans. Not since the final day of 2021/22 at Brentford have they won a Premier League game in the capital, while two previous trips this season both ended in defeat. That looked like being three from three as Farke’s men trudged back for kick-off but they rallied.
Daniel Farke’s substitution hot streak
Brentford’s opener was created by two substitutes in Henry and Mikkel Damsgaard but like his opposite number, Farke had a trick up his sleeve. The Whites boss introduced Willy Gnonto and Brenden Aaronson shortly after conceding, with Ao Tanaka and Jaka Bijol’s removal signalling a change of formation. And just like Liverpool, they had an impact.
Aaronson buzzed around and looked decent again but it was Gnonto who made a telling contribution, his inch-perfect cross from the right finding Calvert-Lewin to rise high and head home. For a manager who has regularly received scrutiny over his in-game management, Farke’s substitutions have worked wonders in recent weeks and long may it continue.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s incredible form
Strikers were hot property in the summer and Premier League clubs spent over £600million on the position, but of all new arrivals only Hugo Ekitike has more goals than Calvert-Lewin, who notched his fifth of the campaign at Brentford. The free agent signing is higher up on the scoring charts than Viktor Gyokeres, Joao Pedro, Alexander Isak, Liam Delap and Benjamin Sesko among many others.
With Lukas Nmecha not far behind on four, Leeds have seemingly found a way to get incredible bang for their buck in the No.9 position, with Calvert-Lewin telling Sky Sports after full-time this is the fittest he’s felt in a long time. Keeping both available for large parts of the season might go a long way to deciding where the Whites sit come May.