Dissecting cup exit, Ian Poveda's progress and Charlie Cresswell's debut - Leeds United Talking Points

What went wrong?

That was really the million-dollar question not just following United's League Cup exit at home to their League One opponents but during the game itself as Hull really should have been out of sight before Gjanni Alioski bagged a 92nd-minute equaliser to take the game to penalties.

Former Whites striker Mallik Wilks proved an absolute menace before finally being taken off in the 72nd minute and 19-year-old Keane Lewis-Potter also looked a big talent before being withdrawn at half-time.

Leeds just quite simply never got going and it took until the 89th minute for United to muster a shot on target through substitute Robbie Gotts.

The main point here is clearly the fact that Marcelo Bielsa made 11 changes to the side that started Saturday evening's Premier League opener at Liverpool and the Whites head coach blamed himself for the cup exit by picking the team that he felt would have been good enough to beat the Tigers.

Even Hull boss Grant McCann admitted he only saw a good team and a strong side featuring the likes of Spanish international and club record signing Rodrigo when assessing the Whites starting line-up.

But in short, as Bielsa admitted himself, the selected team basically could not gel and once again, Leeds are out of the EFL Cup at an early stage.

It's not exactly the end of the world with the club's Premier League campaign quite clearly what matters and in a demanding and shortened season amidst the country's ongoing battle against coronavirus the exit might well prove a blessing in disguise.

But a run in the Carabao Cup would have provided some decent opportunities for United's youngsters and fringe players and those opportunities will now have to come representing the under-23s/under-21s in the EFL Trophy and possibly in the FA Cup when Leeds enter at the third round stage in January.

Ian Poveda's progress

There were not a huge amount of positives for Leeds on the evening with Bielsa admitting himself that his side didn't defend or attack well which is never going to leave you in very good stead.

Realistically, it would have been a bit of a robbery and unjust on Hull had the Whites scraped through on penalties.

But 20-year-old winger/attacking midfielder Ian Poveda was undoubtedly United's stand out player on what was still only his second start for Leeds of any kind and fifth appearance in total.

The recruit from Manchester City who played just once in the League Cup for the Citizens looked to really take the game to Hull in the second half with some fine individual runs and Poveda looks to be progressing quickly eight months on from his move to Elland Road.

Given the way that United's first XI performed at Anfield, there seems little chance of Poveda suddenly bagging a Premier League start for Saturday's hosting of Fulham but he's certainly knocking on the door and could soon become one of the main options from the bench at the very least having been an unused substitute in the 4-3 loss at Liverpool.

Poveda is evidently very close with United class act Kalvin Phillips, social media posts tell you that much, and eventually he ought to be joining the Yorkshire Pirlo as a first team starter a bit longer down the line.

Kiko Casilla captain and Charlie Cresswell's debut

Several Whites youngsters were handed rare starts including a first for Oliver Casey who lined up alongside the likes of Leif Davis, Mateusz Bogusz and Poveda who would all have been extremely keen to impress.

It should be remembered that Jamie Shackleton is also still only 20-years-old yet in a rather different category to the aforementioned Whites youngsters with Wednesday night's outing against the Tigers bringing up Shackleton's half century for Leeds.

The appearance of Kiko Casilla in goal with the captain's arm band and full debut for club record signing Rodrigo were other obvious talking points and after some very dicey moments including a poor clearance that led to Wilks' goal, Casilla actually ended up keeping United at least in contention with some decent saves.

Rodrigo, meanwhile, was basically starved of any decent service and will be better judged given more minutes in the Premier League though Bielsa will surely name the same team that started at Anfield for Saturday's hosting of Fulham unless Liam Cooper is back from injury.

If he is, Cooper would likely replace Pascal Struijk who it has to be said is another player making quick progress.

But a lot of focus was naturally centred around Cresswell in Wednesday night's cup tie as the 17-year-old centre-back and son of former Whites striker and Academy coach Richard went from not playing a single minute for United's first team to making his full debut.

There were some shaky early moments and Cresswell will probably feel he then should have scored when flashing a first-half header from a corner wide with United 1-0 down but the teen gradually settled into the role alongside Leif Davis as part of a very inexperienced centre-back axis with Davis naturally a left back for in the end a reasonably steady debut.

Cresswell is very highly rated within United's Academy and Bielsa said the teen was a "confident player with a good first pass and good aerial game" in his post match press conference

It's only a shame that there will be no more Carabao Cup opportunities for Cresswell this season but at 17 he has time very on his side.

Leeds, though, definitely look as if they could do with another first-team centre-back option before the transfer window shuts as cover and competition for Cooper, Robin Koch and then Struijk who at present seems third choice centre-back with Luke Ayling and Kalvin Phillips able to fill in when required.

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/path-premier-league-narrows-leeds-united-fringe-after-failure-grasp-carabao-cup-opportunity-graham-smyths-verdict-2974436https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/leeds-united-1-hull-city-1-hull-win-9-8-penalties-graham-smyths-player-ratings-whites-exit-carabao-cup-2974440https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/hull-city-boss-grant-mccanns-reaction-seeing-eleven-changes-leeds-united-side-carabao-cup-clash-2974448A message from the Editor:

Leeds has a fantastic story to tell - and the Yorkshire Evening Post has been rooted firmly at the heart of telling the stories of our city since 1890.

We believe in ourselves and hope you believe in us too. We need your support to help ensure we can continue to be at the heart of life in Leeds.

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/why-yorkshire-evening-post-needs-your-support-laura-collins-yep-editor-2913382

Subscribe to our website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app.

With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content.

Click here to subscribe.

For more details on our newspaper subscription offers click here.

Thank you Laura Collins