‘Definitely have a problem’ – Alan Shearer & Ian Wright tear apart Leeds & ‘Poor’ mainstay
Alan Shearer and Ian Wright have torn Leeds United apart for their defending in the 2-1 defeat against West Ham on Friday.
It was the same old problem for Marcelo Bielsa, as his side allowed both Tomas Soucek and Angelo Ogbonna to score from set-piece situations at Elland Road.
Wright was left unhappy with Liam Cooper in the second goal, claiming it was “poor defending” and that he must to do more for his side.
When analysing the clear problem on Match of the Day, Shearer claimed they don’t have enough men who want to attack the ball and clear it.
“Leeds definitely have a problem,” he said.
“They’re just too late to react. There’s no one prepared to the line of the ball and attack it.”
Wright agreed with Shearer and claimed that Cooper needed to do much more to prevent Ogbonna from scoring the winner.
“Every single West Ham player has the march, and then he’s outmuscled him there and he’s scored – the same with this, you look at Cooper, he’s got himself under the ball.
“He’s got to be closer to him, he’s got to be closer to Ogbonna and in the end, he gets under the ball, it’s poor defending for me.”
This is starting to get repetitive.
It feels that every single week that Leeds are conceding from set-pieces, and it is seriously hampering their chances of picking up three points in games.
Crystal Palace, Chelsea and now West Ham have all picked up easy goals against this Whites defence, and they must do more to prevent being overpowered.
Cooper has been the man who has been exposed in all three of these games, and although he is quality in every other department, this is a real worry.
The 29-year-old has won over 60% of his aerial duels in the Premier League according to WyScout, so he is winning his battles in open play – that just needs to transfer to set-pieces as well.
With Newcastle up next, this problem needs to be addressed and quickly, or the likes of Joelinton could have a field-day at Elland Road.
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