Well before the final whistle, three things were clear: Scott Parker’s tactical brain is as finely tuned as the Burnley manager’s dress sense, James Trafford looks a potential England goalkeeper and Leeds still struggle when Patrick Bamford is not at centre-forward.
As well as Burnley defended, Parker’s side had Trafford to thank for preserving a morale-boosting win that could prove significant when the second-tier music stops and the promotion places are decided next spring.
“A very big three points for us,” said Parker. “This is a tough place to come but we showed great grit and determination. And James Trafford was brilliant.”
Daniel Farke looked suitably dismayed. “Burnley are a good side but we didn’t take our chances,” said the Leeds manager. “Their goalkeeper was really good but we weren’t effective in the decisive moments.”
Will Ferrell was at Elland Road to watch his first game since the Hollywood actor became a minority investor in Leeds and, despite departing downcast by Luca Koleosho’s decisive goal, very nearly had something to celebrate inside 45 seconds.
When Maxime Estève erred and Mateo Joseph found himself clean through with the goal at his mercy, Ferrell seemed poised for celebration. Instead, the striker hesitated momentarily and, after perhaps over-thinking his placement as Trafford narrowed the angles, shot wide, leaving Farke shaking his head.
The German had omitted Bamford from his squad as he was not quite match fit but, despite his immense potential, Joseph does not look ready to spearhead a promotion challenge.
Koleosho swiftly showed him how to finish, the 19-year-old capitalising on Manor Solomon’s unfortunate slip and dashing about 70 yards before sliding a shot through Jayden Bogle’s legs and beyond the reach of an unsighted Illan Meslier.
As if feeling a sudden burst of autumnal chill, Farke hugged his trademark Parka tight to his body as Parker celebrated. “Luca’s young and needs refining but he’s going to be massive for us this season,” said Parker. “Not many players could run so far, so fast and have the calmness to finish like that.”
Burnley’s manager had braved the weak Yorkshire sunshine in a light jacket and neatly knotted skinny tie. Indeed, with his swept-back, immaculately coiffed collar-length hair and perfectly polished brown shoes, the former England midfielder looks more Serie A head coach than Championship manager these days.
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Such sharpness is clearly not confined to sartorial matters as, having kicked off in full-on high-pressing mode but struggled to contain Leeds, Parker ordered his team to switch to a contain-and-counter approach that left Farke’s players increasingly frustrated.
Nonetheless, Leeds should arguably have had a penalty when Joe Worrall caught Tottenham loanee Solomon late from behind.
That moment of possible fortune aside, Burnley’s lead was ably protected by Trafford. Parker’s England Under-21s goalkeeper showed precisely why Newcastle were so keen to spend £20m on him this summer by making a wonderfully acrobatic save to divert Joseph’s swerving shot.
Although Trafford had earlier reacted well to step off his line and charge down Wilfried Gnonto’s shot and would subsequently save smartly to deny Ethan Ampadu, Leeds failed to make their considerable dominance of possession count and were too easily second-guessed by markers well schooled in time-wasting.
When, deep into the near 10 minutes of stoppage time, the visitors’ right-back, the Chelsea loanee Bashir Humphreys, was sent off after collecting a second yellow card, Farke’s opportunity to change the narrative had already vanished.
As disgruntled locals trooped out, Parker watched Burnley’s players take turns to hug Trafford before wrapping the goalkeeper in his own lengthy embrace.
