'A damaging run' National media round-up after Leeds…

'A damaging run' National media round-up after Leeds and Brentford ends goalless

A round-up of what the national media are reporting after Leeds United’s 0-0 draw against Brentford at Elland Road.

'A damaging run'

David Coverdale of the Daily Mail: "Jesse Marsch said this week that he now has an ‘arsenal of weapons’. But just when he needed them to cause mass destruction, they fired blanks here at Elland Road.

"The Leeds boss has been purring about his array of attacking talent since the club-record signing of French forward Georginio Rutter, with Rodrigo and Willy Gnonto bang in form and Patrick Bamford and Luis Sinisterra also back fit.

"Yet four of those forwards failed to breach Brentford’s backline on Sunday, while new boy Rutter was left shivering under a blanket on the bench. It means Leeds have now gone six Premier League games without a win, a damaging run which dates back to November 5 and leaves them just a point above the relegation zone.

"As is his way, manager Marsch was keen to talk up the positives of a point gained rather than two dropped. He insists his side are close to becoming a ‘good team’ and a run of results is just around the corner.

"But fans will only believe that when they see it, especially given their next four Premier League fixtures includes two games against rivals Manchester United, as well as visits to Nottingham Forest and Everton."

'Fail to do the most important thing in football: score goals'

Will Unwin wrote in The Guardian: "Anyone who watched the first 45 minutes could have been forgiven for not returning for the second half.

"Yet that was when Leeds showed what they were capable of through quick passing, relentless pressing and getting into dangerous positions but without creating enough chances. Improvement means very little when they fail to do the most important thing in football: score goals.

"The centre-back Max Wöber was brought in for his first Premier League start since joining Leeds from Marsch’s former club RB Salzburg. It was an opportunity to show he could be the answer to Leeds’s defensive woes, especially in the absence of their injured captain, Liam Cooper.

"He brought calmness to the defence to help earn a much-needed clean sheet after they had conceded two goals in each of their past four matches.

"Leeds were only missing a striker to cause further problems in the box but Marsch left Patrick Bamford on the bench until the 79th minute, despite him scoring three goals in his past two outings, while Rutter was left unused.

"The home fans responded with chants of Bamford’s name when he replaced Rodrigo but he was unable to make the difference, leaving Leeds a point above the relegation zone. Marsch is getting elements right, but he needs his players to join the dots in a single match to avoid a battle for survival."

'Frustrating afternoon'

The Sun 's Joshua Mbu wrote: "It was a frustrating afternoon for Jesse Marsch's side, who were in dire need of all three points after winning only two of their previous 15 in the top flight.

"Brentford's David Raya was the busier goalkeeper - he produced the game's decisive save when turning aside Willy Gnonto's second-half effort - but Leeds lacked the quality in and around the penalty area to seriously test the visitors.

"Leeds club record signing Georginio Rutter remained on the bench and that only added to the home fans' irritation."

'A damaging run' National media round-up after Leeds and Brentford ends goalless

'A damaging run'

'Fail to do the most important thing in football: score goals'

'Frustrating afternoon'

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