Leeds missed the chance to go top of the Sky Bet Championship after being held to a disappointing goalless draw by Sunderland at Elland Road.
Daniel Farke’s promotion-chasers climbed back into the top two but another below-par display saw them fall short of usurping leaders Leicester, who slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Millwall.
Leeds, who were beaten in the league for the first time this year at Coventry on Saturday, extended their unbeaten home Championship record this season to 21 matches.
But, after misfiring against resolute opponents, the stalemate left them one point behind Leicester and level with third-placed Ipswich, with both promotion rivals having a game in hand.
Sunderland made clear their intentions from kick off as they sat deep and invited Leeds on and, with space hard to come by, the home side found it difficult to fashion early chances.
Former Leeds forward Jack Clarke just failed to get his head on to a fizzing cross from Timothee Pembele for the visitors before Georginio Rutter fired the hosts’ first chance over the crossbar in the 18th minute.
Leeds had a whopping 80 per cent possession through the first half an hour and had nothing to show for it, while it was their goalkeeper Illan Meslier who was forced into the game’s first two saves.
Both of those were from Clarke, who was keen to impress on his first appearance back at Elland Road since departing for Tottenham in 2019.
At the start of the second half, Leeds fans did their best to lift their team, who appeared weighed down with the expectation, and the response was immediate as Rutter and Dan James both flashed shots wide.
But it required a crucial intervention from skipper Ethan Ampadu to cut out Clarke’s dangerous low cross as Sunderland threatened again.
Crysencio Summerville’s free-kick curled the wrong side of a post and Rutter hooked a tame effort wide as Leeds toiled without inspiration.
With tension mounting on the terraces, Meslier saved Sunderland substitute Patrick Roberts’ free-kick before Leeds’ appeals for a penalty fell on deaf ears when a corner struck visiting skipper Luke O’Nien on the hand.
Leeds boss Daniel Farke sent on Joel Piroe, Connor Roberts and Mateo Joseph in the 83rd minute – Willy Gnonto had already replaced Glen Kamara – in a final bid to wrestle victory from a disjointed performance.
Gnonto’s 20-yard shot was deflected over the crossbar in the closing stages and, despite forcing late pressure, below-par Leeds failed to create any clear-cut chances and missed a key opportunity in the promotion race.
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim and striker Rasmus Højlund: two people with uncertain futures next season. (Photo by Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images)BILBAO, Spain -- Tottenham Hotspur have won their first trophy since 2008 after beating Manchester United 1-0 in the UEFA Europa League final on a tight and tense night in Bilbao.The game was decided by a scruffy goal from Brenn...
Alejandro Garnacho seemed visibly annoyed after being relegated to the bench for Manchester United's Europa League final showdown with Tottenham.Manager Ruben Amorim decided to leave the Argentine winger out of his starting XI, and the player was noticeably late in joining his fellow subs for the pre-match warm-up. Garnacho spent a good 15 minutes on the pitch, still suited up, having a chat with ...
Ruben Amorim spoke out about his future (Image: Getty)Ruben Amorim has offered to forgo any copensation he would be owed if Manchester United bosses decide to sack him this summer. The Red Devils lost the Europa League final 1-0 against Tottenham on Wednesday night.A trophyless season, coupled with United's 16th-place in the Premier League table, has left huge question marks hanging over Amorim's ...
Let's start our Daily Laugh today.Liverpool v Crystal Palace next game Tottenham Europa league Champions Winner Arsenal🤝Man City🤝Man Utd 17th-place Spurs took the back door to the Champions League Manchester United's season: Just GOAT Things! "He let Tottenham win a trophy." Please stay tuned on Daily Laugh. There will be more fun tomorrow!(Credit: Justtoonit, BleacherReportFootball, originalt...
Liverpool are set to part ways with Darwin Nunez this summer, and the Uruguay striker could be set for a move to Spain, where he previously played with Almeria. And despite interest from a number of clubs, including Serie A leaders Napoli, the likelihood is that La Liga is his most likely destination.Nunez is keen to leave Anfield this summer having had a difficult season under Arne Slot. Liverpoo...
Manchester United were beaten 1-0 by Tottenham in the Europa League final.The Red Devils, who were heavily relying on the Europa League to save their season, suffered defeat against Ange Postecoglou’s side in Bilbao.This defeat makes matters worse for Ruben Amorim and his players next season.They have failed to qualify for the Champions League next season. Not only that, they are not going t...
Arsenal have emerged as contenders to sign Rodrygo from Real Madrid after GOAL reported Chelsea are lining up an offer for the Brazilian.Arsenal exploring options to sign RodrygoChelsea also considering a bid for BrazilianMadrid reportedly demanding £85m for wingerWHAT HAPPENED?Arsenal are already holding talks about a possible bid for the winger, Sky Sport in Germany reports, with the Gunner...
Revealed: Conte's long list of demands to stay on at NapoliAntonio Conte has issued a list of demands to the Napoli board if he is to stay on as coach next season.Bayern could lose two key coaching staff membersBayern Munich and head coach Vincent Kompany could lose two key members of the coaching staff just days after reclaiming their Bundesliga throne.Chelsea in talks over move for €100m-r...
HE TOLD us so. Big Ange Postecoglou told us that he always wins a trophy in his second season. And even though it was a statement of fact, we laughed at him, we sneered and we wondered why he’d made such a bold statement when he was the manager of Tottenham Hotspur, London’s long-running comedy club. But after a terrible match, between two terrible teams, settled by a terrible goal, Po...
ENGLAND fans heading to next summer’s World Cup could be fleeced for THOUSANDS per match under Fifa plans to use a "dynamic pricing" strategy.Average costs of around £305 per match had previously been reported.But now Fifa chiefs are looking at the same demand-based pricing arrangements that saw this summer’s Oasis reunion concerts plunged into controversy.And that could see ticke...
- 1 We will see – no Unai Emery assurances over future of tearful Emiliano Martinez
- 2 Mikel Arteta ready to give his life to deliver silverware for Arsenal
- 3 Chelsea beat Manchester United in FA Cup final to seal domestic treble
- 4 Mikel Arteta apologises for failing to deliver Arsenal a Premier League title
- 5 Liverpool cleared to complete signing
- 6 Marc Guehi to land transfer to Real or Barca
- 7 Real Madrid agree deal for Dean Huijsen
- 8 Dele Alli’s girlfriend Cindy sets pulses racing in barely
- 9 Man City withdraw and Liverpool could steal
- 10 3 EPL giants have advantage in Osimhen race