Leeds United’s unbeaten home run came to an end on Saturday following their 2-1 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur. Noah Okafor’s first-half effort was not enough for the Whites, who conceded in either half to Mathys Tel and Mohammed Kudus.
Daniel Farke’s side started well but, for the third week running, conceded the opener when Tel’s effort deflected off Pascal Struijk and beyond Karl Darlow. Spurs’ lead lasted just 10 minutes, however, with Okafor tapping into an empty net after Brenden Aaronson’s effort was parried into his path.
Spurs re-took the lead just before the hour mark through Kudus, who took advantage of Gabriel Gudmundsson’s slip before another shot that deflected in off Struijk. Farke made several attacking changes in a bid to pull level again but Leeds struggled to create anything of note, eventually falling to defeat.
Here’s how the YEP’s chief football writer Graham Smyth rated the Leeds United players...
7. CM: Anton Stach
7 - Made life difficult for Spurs when they had the ball, winning it in good positions. Relished the physical battle. Some tidy football too. | AFP via Getty Images
8. CM: Sean Longstaff
7 - Sloppier in possession than he has been previously but every bit as physical as he needed to be. Decent set-pieces, had a dig every time the chance presented itself. | Getty Images
9. RW: Brenden Aaronson
7 - Made a nuisance of himself, winning the ball and putting pressure on. Got involved going forward. Had the shot immediately prior to the Okafor goal. | Getty Images
10. LW: Noah Okafor
7 - Scored a goal and looked dangerous in the first half. Wasn't quite on the same page as Gudmundsson a couple of times in the second half and influence waned. | Getty Images
11. ST: Dominic Calvert-Lewin
6 - Did lots of hard work, battled in the air and held it up but the finishing was missing again. | AFP via Getty Images
12. Sub: Ao Tanaka
7 - Added energy and tried to make things happen with Leeds in need of a goal. | Getty Images