Credit: Imago and Match of the Day

Richie Mills

Sun 22 March 2026 7:08, UK Updated Sun 22 March 2026 7:31, UK

Leeds United fans have been criticised by Wayne Rooney for not getting behind their team enough against Brentford.

Daniel Farke’s side missed the chance to go six points clear of the relegation zone as they played out a nervy goalless draw with Brentford on Saturday at Elland Road.

Leeds had 57 per cent possession and 14 shots to the visitors’ six, but between both sides, they mustered a combined Expected Goals tally of just one – in what was a difficult watch.

Elland Road has a reputation for having a terrific atmosphere that can sometimes be the 12th man for Leeds, but Rooney said that wasn’t the case this time out.

The former Plymouth Argyle manager wanted more from the home faithful, while stating this Leeds match was not one for the purists.

Wayne Rooney claims Leeds fans never got behind the team

Leeds pushed for a late winner, with a flurry of corners against Keith Andrews’ resilient Bees. But for all their huff and puff, they didn’t have enough quality in the final third, and both sides came away with a point.

This was the fourth Premier League game in a row in which Leeds failed to score, as they didn’t create nearly enough clear-cut chances.

That, and the atmosphere in the ground, drew the ire of ex-England international Rooney.

He said on Match of the Day: “It was a hard watch. For the importance of the game and where Leeds are, I thought they and the fans were poor.

“I thought the [Leeds] fans never got behind them as Leeds fans can do. It was a bad game.”

One positive for Leeds was how they restricted 19-goal striker Thiago to virtually nothing in front of goal, with the Bees ace limited to a single shot off target.

While a point against a team sitting seventh in the league may be good on paper, many Leeds fans will feel this was a missed opportunity.

Leeds may be relying on Wolves and Burnley games

For all of the positive work that Farke has done at Leeds since taking over in 2023, the German can still be quite cautious by nature, as evidenced by the Brentford draw.

For instance, against Sunderland at Elland Road, he chose to play two defensive midfielders and a back five. The former Norwich City manager can opt for a safety-first approach and can be more reactive than proactive.

On paper, Leeds have one of the easiest run-ins but the pressure to win some of these upcoming matches are ratcheting up now.

Leeds host basement side Wolves on 18 April and then entertain another relegation favourite in Burnley on 2 May.

Two wins there could be enough to keep Leeds up but Wolves have been resurgent in 2026 and Scott Parker picked up four points against Daniel Farke’s men last season.

Plus, they beat Leeds in the reverse fixture earlier on this term. This looks to be going down to the wire.