Leeds United extended their winless run to seven games on Thursday night with a lacklustre 2-0 defeat to Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.
Here's Leeds Live's winners and losers from the clash.
Winners
Pascal Struijk
Struijk missed the trip to Leicester after picking up a minor issue in the build-up to the contest and that opened the door for Junior Firpo to make his first start of the season. The former Barcelona man hardly took his chance to impress, though, turning in a less than convincing display at the King Power Stadium.
Read more: Leeds United player ratings as Koch error and dire display put Marsch under pressure at Leicester
Firpo had a hand in Leicester’s second goal, as the Foxes split Leeds open down the left-hand side and he struggled in possession on more than one occasion. He was eventually hooked midway through the second half.
It means that, if he’s fit, Struijk will surely step back into the left-back spot on Sunday, with Firpo needing to do much more to put the Dutchman under pressure.
Losers
Robin Koch
He’s been one of Leeds’ best this season, of that there can be no doubt at all. When Leeds have been uncertain at the back, the Germany international has provided a steady presence and he’s rightly been hailed.
However, he had a first half to forget at the King Power Stadium, turning the ball into his own net to give Leicester the lead. It was a mistake from Marc Roca that led to it, giving the ball away in a dangerous area, but as he slid to block a Dennis Praet cross, Koch could only watch on as he pushed the ball beyond Illan Meslier and into the back of the net.
The centre-back was later booked for bringing down Harvey Barnes with a clumsy challenge and replaced by Liam Cooper at half-time.
Marc Roca
As mentioned above, it was Roca’s failure to control a pass from Diego Llorente that led to the opening goal of the game, being dispossessed by Jamie Vardy in his own half. Leicester broke quickly and just a couple of seconds after his mistake, Koch was scoring the own goal.
The midfielder struggled to settle in the contest and like Koch, he was replaced at half-time as Jesse Marsch opted to use Brenden Aaronson deeper and change the system.
Jesse Marsch
The head coach looked a forlorn figure on the King Power touchline at times on Thursday night as his side struggled to get a foothold in the game. His changes failed to have the desired effect and he could do little to change the course of the game.
Supporters made their frustrations known at times, too, vocally questioning substitutions, singing Marcelo Bielsa’s name and booing on both the half-time and full-time whistles. This one will go down as one of Marsch’s toughest nights in the job and it certainly piles the pressure on Sunday’s home game against Fulham.
A win at Elland Road could settle a few nerves but Leeds could find themselves in the relegation zone should they stretch their winless run to eight games.
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