Burnley 1 Leeds United 0: YEP Jury give their verdicts

DAVID WATKINS

This was another hugely frustrating performance from Leeds although for different reasons to usual!

Apart from giving Burnley a goal start, for the remainder of the game Leeds outplayed their promotion-seeking hosts.

It could be argued Burnley’s rapid-fire goal was a result of their great teamwork or, being critical, it could be argued Leeds were sloppy and maybe Marco Silvestri ought to have had the shot covered from that angle.

Whatever, we were a goal down and it was ‘gone in 60 seconds’ but, from then on, Leeds more than matched them.

Indeed, with 20 attempts at goal to their nine, we ought to have won the game, but sadly six of those 20 fell to Chris Wood.

I am not usually one to pick out and criticise a player but I have to say his finishing is poor and, whereas Steve Evans says that “he would normally bury those”, I honestly do not think we can say that any more.

I have lost count of the number of chances he has spurned this season and he had three excellent opportunities in this game and didn’t even come close.

We also won 11 corners during the game and I can’t remember a single chance coming from any of those.

It is another aspect of our game that cries out for some specific coaching.

So, for once it wasn’t our super porous defence that was the problem with Liam Cooper and Sol Bamba both largely untroubled; it was our lamentable finishing.

When you look at the Championship table and see that only two points separate Leeds in 15th and Rotherham in 21st you have to conclude that this is a poor division and, had we had either a more solid defence or a more potent attack this season, we’d be comfortably in the top six.

Had we had both we’d have celebrated promotion a couple of weeks ago!

As we gird our loins for a trip to Birmingham tomorrow surely we must be able to find a striker in the Development squad worthy of a run-out in place of Wood? Anyone who’s six foot tall and can kick and head straight will do for me.

Man of the match: Sol Bamba.

KEITH INGHAM

Burnley continued their unbeaten run after a early goal sent Leeds to another defeat, their fourth game without a win.

Leeds and Chris Wood will rue the two chances he missed.

It’s a good job that the three wins in March are on the board or Leeds would be looking at a very nervous last few games.

Leeds were undone within the first minute. I thought goalkeeper Marco Silvestri should have done better. 1-0 down so early meant it would be tough going for Leeds.

Mostly, for Leeds, the quality of the ball into the final third wasn’t good enough to trouble a well-marshalled Burnley backline.

Wood had an effort over the bar before a guilt-edged chance fell to the big striker – Carayol’s cross found him but, inexplicably, the big striker headed wide and, at three million quid, those chances should be taken!

Mirco Antenucci burst past a defender and ended up prone in the area, the referee ignoring the Italians plea for a penalty.

Leeds had the lion’s share of the possession but weren’t able to capitalise on it; Wood, especially, again failing to find the net. Even at pub level, if chances are created you need to take them to win games. Chris Wood is guilty of squandering enough chances to at least get a point out of the game.

Man of the match: Liam Cooper.

MATTHEW EVANS

Another tedious afternoon for anyone in Leeds United colours.

Burnley won the game in the first minute and, from that point on, did anyone in yellow really look like they cared?

A far cry from other recent trips to Turf Moor where exciting comebacks were the norm.

It’s such a slow grind towards the end of the season that even the most die-hard fan must be finding it a chore.

United really need to inject some enthusiasm into the remaining games of the Championship.

Give us a glimmer of hope for next season, make sure we don’t get relegated and, above all, earn your money.

Man of the match: Lewis Cook.

GARY NEWBOULD

After falling a goal behind in the first minute of the match away at the league leaders anyone of a Whites persuasion must have feared the worst and a repeat of the Brighton debacle. However after 90 minutes United could feel hard done by, especially with Chris Wood missing two absolute sitters in the second half.

The Whites had more than their share of possession and played much the better football, however a lack of sharpness at either end of the pitch contributed to this defeat – sound familiar?

Man of the match: Lewis Cook.

STEPHEN CLARK

A lapse in concentration in the opening minute cost Leeds United dear as they went down 1-0 to top-of-the-table Burnley on Saturday.

The paucity of real quality in the Championship was on display for all to see and it makes you wonder how Burnley are top of the table when they were dominated for long periods of the game by a side struggling in the middle of the table. Maybe it’s a bit of quality at both ends of the pitch that’s the difference. Leeds looked shaky at the back, and Chris Wood had an afternoon to forget in front of goal.

Another defeat sees Leeds mired in the lower reaches of the League, but thankfully safe from the drop. There is nothing left to play for but pride.

Man of the match: Toumani Diagouraga.

JAMES HARRISON

I thought we were very unlucky. The goal could’ve killed us but we had chances to equalise and maybe even win. I don’t know what the team can do for the fans now; when we play well, we don’t win so the quicker the season ends, the better.

Man of the match: Liam Cooper.