Hearts 0 Leeds United 1: Reaction and recap from final friendly with key pair off injured

Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now
Leeds United took on SPL side Hearts on Sunday at Tynecastle Park in their final pre-season friendly.

Daniel Farke’s Whites are now just one week away from the start of the new Championship season which sees Leeds host Cardiff City next Sunday for their 2023-24 curtain-raiser. Farke got one last look at his side in competitive action in Sunday afternoon’s clash in Edinburgh in which a Luke Ayling strike forced an own goal which gave the the Whites a 1-0 victory. But the win came at a cost for United who lost two key players to injury. Here is our reaction and recap.

Hearts 0 Leeds United 1: Reaction and recap

Key Events

  • 3pm kick-off at Tynecastle Park
  • Final pre-season friendly
  • Championship season starts next Sunday at home to Cardiff

Lining up in the final pre-season friendly at just 17 years old. Clearly must be every chance of him starting against Cardiff. They always say play your strongest team or your likely XI to start the opening game in the final friendly. Whether that’s the case remains to be seen as Bamford appeared in pole position as no 9 and possibly Byram too at left back. Big game for Struijk. Must be close between him and Cresswell to line up next to Cooper. And big game for all the forwards given what is on the bench. Meslier too given Darlow’s arrival. No starts for Gnonto in the friendlies that we have seen. Leeds also crying out for someome to really grab the no 10 role. Summerville or Sinisterra today it seems. Might well rotate.

Interesting to see how the levels compare, Celtic and Rangers aside. Leeds odds on.

All set at Tynecastle Park

Players out at Tynecastle

A delay as there is going to be a change in linesman.

1: Hearts kick us off

Usual formation - 4-2-3-1

1: Sinisterra at no 10 by the looks of it. James wide left, Summerville wide right, Rutter upfront

3: Good pressing by Leeds, Ayling wins a corner, Gray takes but his deep delivery is cleared

5: Fine run by James after a neat one two with Rutter, gets to the byline, cross cleared. Leeds on top