Credit: Imago

Richie Mills

Wed 18 March 2026 15:40, UK

Leeds United need to show their attacking capabilities after a strong rearguard effort against Crystal Palace.

Daniel Farke’s side looked set to head into half time with a one-goal lead at Selhurst Park on Sunday, only for Dominic Calvert-Lewin to miss his penalty.

To make matters worse, Gabriel Gudmundsson received a very harsh second yellow, leaving Leeds with 10 men for the second half.

However, according to Opta (which began in 2003-04), Leeds became the first team on record to have a player sent off in the first half and not concede a single shot on target in the same Premier League match.

If they can keep their full complement of players on the pitch for the full match against Brentford on Saturday, their chances of victory will significantly increase.

But after three league games without a goal for Leeds, they need to arrest that trend and fast.

Leeds’ concerning lack of goals after defensive heroics

A lack of goals haven’t been a huge cause of concern for Leeds this season, with 37 in 30 matches.

However, two 1-0 defeats to Manchester City and Sunderland, in addition to the Palace shutout, heighten the need to find the back of the net against Europe-chasing Brentford.

In defence against Palace, Leeds made 15 tackles, six interceptions, six blocks, 55 clearances, and won 57 duels.

Jaka Bijol topped Leeds’ defensive charts courtesy of 13 clearances, four tackles, one interception and one recovery.

While there were extenuating circumstances for Leeds’ Expected Goals tally of 1.12 against Palace, the vast majority of which came from their penalty, they haven’t been clinical against Sunderland or City.

From 14 shots, Leeds created an xG of 1.47 and only had two shots on target against City. And despite mustering 18 shots against Sunderland, just four were on target, as they chalked up an xG of 1.16.

Calvert-Lewin hasn’t scored for Leeds in the league since 6 February, and their last goal came in the first half of their 1-1 draw with Aston Villa on 21 February.

If Leeds want to survive, they need to start delivering in front of goal, as well as being defensively solid.

Relegation fight in Leeds’ hands

On paper, Leeds have one of the easier run-ins as they bid to stave off relegation to the Championship.

In their final eight matches, they face lowly Wolves, Burnley, Tottenham and West Ham.

But Wolves are proving a tough match for anyone these days, and drew 2-2 at Brentford, and West Ham have been resurgent in the past two months.

Leeds sit three points above the relegation zone, and like lowly rivals Tottenham, Nottingham Forest, and West Ham, all four have won just seven games this term.

Whichever club can come out on top in the victory count is likely to survive.

If Leeds are to stay up, they need to be bold and clinical, starting with a crunch game with Brentford under the lights at Elland Road.