Leeds manager Daniel Farke admits he understands the frustration of the club’s supporters but was relieved to have left the Hawthorns with a 0-0 draw against West Brom after losing a host of key players this summer.
Visiting fans booed when Leeds players passed the ball backwards and again at the full-time whistle as United’s winless start to the season stretched to three games, including the midweek 3-0 Carabao Cup exit to Middlesbrough.
Chances were few and far between but it was West Brom who had the best of them with the ball hitting Kyle Bartley from point-blank range, Jayson Molumby firing straight at Illan Meslier and Karlan Grant shooting wide.
Leeds’ best chance came when Ethan Ampadu’s ambitious 60-yard attempt drifted just wide with goalkeeper Alex Palmer off his line.
But Farke has issues on and off the field with Georginio Rutter poised to follow Crysencio Summerville, Archie Gray, Luis Sinisterra, Glen Kamara, Marc Roca, Charlie Cresswell, Diego Llorente, Robin Koch and Luke Ayling out of the door after Brighton triggered the £40million release clause in his contract.
Asked if he understood the fans’ frustrations, Farke said: “Yes, because they are used to seeing us flying – even in the last home game.
“We created so many chances, we are known for this and we are still a bit frustrated that we lost so many interesting players.
“We lost the best player in the league in Crysencio Summerville, we lost the best young player in the league in Archie Gray, we lost our superstar and next best player in the league in Georginio Rutter, and a few more.
“So yes, of course you’re always a bit frustrated and disappointed when you want to see fireworks at West Brom.
“Today was the first step forward after a really difficult week. It was really pleasing.
“There were many positives to take. We want to deliver those offensive fireworks but it wasn’t the case today.
“We were flying after pre-season with top results and top performances in the friendlies, hardly conceding a goal, but in football, sometimes the world can change in four or five days.”
West Brom head coach Carlos Corberan felt a draw was a balanced reflection of the game.
“I think the result is fair according to the number of chances both teams created because there were not many,” he said.
“In terms of the team who dominated the ball more, we were better than them because we accumulated close to 60 per cent (possession).
“Against a team like Leeds you need to have two key aspects – be very well organised in defence and have a lot of bravery and personality to attack.
“For me the team showed a very good balance of both things.”
Corberan, whose side suffered a shock midweek Carabao Cup loss to Fleetwood after starting their league campaign with a 3-1 win at QPR, says he wants to play a more possession-based game and saw signs of it working.
“I am happy because in the two games – today and QPR – we had very good possession,” he said.
“Sometimes when you force attacks more, you lose control of the game and the opponent looks better because they use their strengths.
“In football it is easy to attack in transitions than positional attacks, but the fact we dominate them makes us attack a more defensive team that were more closer to their goal.
“This is where we need to improve – to create more things using the ball better, but trying to create chances while not losing the control in games.”
Interim boss Stephen Frail expects Motherwell to appoint a new manager next week and admits their first job will be to lift the players’ confidence after a 3-0 mauling at home to Ross County.A double from Ronan Hale and Connor Randall’s last-minute strike secured an impressive victory for the Staggies at Fir Park.Defeat sees the Steelmen drop into the bottom half of the Premiership tab...
Mark Hughes heaped praise on goalkeeper Gabe Breeze after Carlisle picked up a vital point in the League Two relegation battle with a goalless draw against in-form Colchester at Brunton Park.Breeze made two excellent saves from Lyle Taylor as the Cumbrians ended a four-game losing run and the former Man City boss was astounded by the 21-year-old’s performance.He said: “The game had som...
Chesterfield boss Paul Cook launched a scathing attack on his play-off hopefuls after they surrendered an early lead to lose 3-1 at Sky Bet League Two table-toppers Walsall.The Spireites enjoyed a rapid start when Jamie Grimes’ eighth-minute header put them ahead against a wobbling Walsall side, who were winless in five matches with the chasing pack closing in.However, Bim Pepple and Dylan D...
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has allayed fears of an injury scare to top scorer Erling Haaland ahead of next week’s Champions League trip to Real Madrid.Haaland went down clutching his leg in the latter stages of the champions’ 4-0 Premier League thrashing of Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday and was immediately substituted.Losing the Norwegian would be a major blow to ...
Rotherham manager Steve Evans described Thomas Parsons’ performance as “atrocious” after the referee awarded a stoppage-time penalty from which Reading snatched a 2-1 victory in League One.Reading had led 1-0 at half-time through top scorer Harvey Knibbs but Sam Nombe levelled for Rotherham from a spot-kick in the 57th minute.With the game heading for a draw, Parsons adjudged Mil...
Michael Flynn believes his team can make a charge towards the League Two play-offs places after watching them come from 2-0 down to beat Barrow 3-2 at home.Matty Taylor scored twice before fellow substitute Ashley Hay hit the winner as the Robins continued their perfect home record in 2025.Cheltenham climbed to 13th in the table and sit eight points off seventh-placed Crewe with two games in hand....
Birmingham manager Chris Davies praised Jay Stansfield’s work ethic after he lit up St Andrew’s with the only goal of a 1-0 win to sink play-off chasing Charlton.Stansfield’s 23rd-minute strike stretched City’s lead to nine points ahead of second-placed Wycombe, with Blues boasting a game in hand.Victory was City’s 30th in all competitions as they extended their unbea...
Andoni Iraola refused to get carried away after Bournemouth fans were left dreaming of a potential Champions League adventure following a first league double over south-coast rivals Southampton.Travelling Cherries fans chanted of playing in European football’s premier competition next season after their side soared to fifth spot in the Premier League table thanks to a deserved 3-1 success at...
Norwich head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup praised his side for fighting back to draw 1-1 at Hull after he demanded “I want to see my football team back”.The Norwich boss had some tough words for his team as they trailed 1-0 at half-time to the relegation-threatened side, including for Kellen Fisher – but the player then delivered the assist for Josh Sargent’s equaliser.The Un...
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says Jota has a chance of starting against Bayern Munich after scoring and impressing in a 3-0 victory over Dundee United.Jota earned the club’s man-of-the-match award after cutting in from the left and curling home from 18 yards to double the lead given to the hosts by another impressive finish from Callum McGregor.The Portuguese winger has now started two gam...
