David Woods

Wed 23 December 2020 9:35, UK

Former Leeds United star Dominic Matteo has said he was “shocked” by what happened to Leeds at Old Trafford last Sunday.

He said that Leeds have to defend better and claimed the next two games – against Burnley and West Brom – are huge.

Leeds were 2-0 down against Man United after three minutes and ended up losing 6-2 in a game that could easily have been 9-7.

Writing in his column for the Yorkshire Evening Post Matteo said, “Leeds are ultimately aiming to get back to the top level in the Premier League and reaching that level is going to take a lot of time.

“But I was still shocked with the way Leeds got beat at Manchester United on Sunday because you just don’t expect to get beat by that many.”

Matteo said it can take time to bounce back from a defeat like that and said Leeds “have to defend better in certain areas.”

“Against the better opposition and players who have got a lot of pace,” Matteo added, “we have to find a way of playing against them.”

Matteo said the games against Burnley and West Brom are “huge” and that Sean Dyche would be highlighting the Leeds’ weaknesses and pumping high balls into the box.

Six points very possible

Burnley and West Brom are huge games for Leeds and six points would put a very different complexion on the season.

They will be completely different games from the Man United clash, too.

Burnley are 16th in the table and have only scored eight goals in 13 games – the joint-lowest in the Premier League.

West Brom are 19th and have only scored 10 goals in 14 games.

If these end up being high scoring games then you have to think that Leeds will pick up maximum points.

Neither side has the pace or the quality of players that Man United do and they won’t be able to pick Leeds apart on the counter like Leicester did.

What they will do is target the weakness that Leeds have from set-pieces.

Their tactics are likely to be a throw-back to football of old and if Leeds can break them down, we think we’ll get two wins.