Gabby Agbonlahor baffled by Leeds United playing pattern against West Ham
Leeds United suffered a 2-1 loss at the hands of West Ham United on Saturday, and the search for their first league win of 2021-22 continues.
A late goal from Michail Antonio denied the Whites the chance to earn a deserved point after Junior Firpo’s own goal had cancelled out Raphinha’s opener, and Gabriel Agbonlahor was left baffled by their defending.
Leeds were without Diego Llorente, Robin Koch, Pascal Struijk and Luke Ayling, with Marcelo Bielsa handing under-23s centre-back Charlie Cresswell his Premier League debut.
Despite their injury worries at the back, the Elland Road side stuck to their normal style of play, and it left Agbonlahor puzzled.
The former Aston Villa striker said on talk SPORT (as shared on their official Twitter account on Sunday): “Every game, it’s double-figure shots against them. Today it’s 1-1, and you’re disrespecting Michail Antonio. You’re leaving him 1 v 1.
“When they counter-attack from Declan Rice, it’s 2 v 2, and Michail Antonio is probably the most in-form striker in the Premier League, and he punished them deservedly.
“I’d just think they’ve got injuries at the backline, so be a bit more cautious. Even more now when you’ve got your better centre-backs injured, but today they didn’t and they lost again. You just don’t back Leeds to keep a clean sheet.”
Bielsa not changing
Leeds youth teams and the first-team play the same brand of expansive football, and the Argentine is not going to change his style anytime soon.
Not even key injuries could force El Loco into coming up with a plan B against the Hammers, and the fans are not expecting that to happen as there is no plan B.
With only three points picked up in six league games so far, the Whites have found themselves in 18th place in the table, and while it is too early to tag them as relegation candidates, their fans will be worried seeing their team that down the table after last term’s impressive campaign.
Leeds need their injured players back as soon as possible, and with their next run of games looking easier on paper, they will fancy their chances of finally picking up much-needed victories and moving up the table as soon as possible.
They face Watford at Elland Road in their next game, and a win will be massive for their morale.
In other Leeds United news, Bielsa has provided an injury update on Whites centre-mid after 2-1 loss v West Ham.