Inside Leeds United preparations for Aston Villa as work and talk surrounds two issues at Thorp Arch

Daniel Farke is pointing no fingers as Leeds United prepare to host Aston Villa but he has pointed out where his side must improve to halt their run of form.

The Whites have lost four in five games but it's the manner of defeat in back-to-back away games that has dialled up the volume on discontent among supporters.

At Brighton, Leeds conceded almost identical goals with cut-backs to free men crashing the area, while struggling to do much of anything with their own possession.

Then at Nottingham Forest it was the same story when Leeds were on the ball, besides when they took a lead that lasted just 90 seconds.

Off the ball they once again conceded cheaply and two of Forest's goals were finished off by unmarked men in the area.

Speaking ahead of Sunday's game against Villa, Farke called for his players to press higher and play with more courage.

What that looks like in his eyes, when they're on the ball at least, is to replicate what they did before Lukas Nmecha put the ball in the Forest net.

He wants to see bodies around the lone striker, he wants to see them carry or pass the ball into areas where they can hurt Villa and he wants them to deal with pressure better.

"We have played too much around the cake”

"I wouldn't say we've dominated these games, because we had possession more or less in areas where it doesn't count that much," he began.

"We have played too much around the cake, if I can use this picture, and not really in areas and zones where we can create chances and make it happen.

“We have of course scored a fantastic team goal and this is exactly what we need - Noah Okafor kept the ball, Brenden Aaronson was close to the striker and kept the ball, fantastic assist to Lukas and Lukas with an outstanding finish.

“But the gap between the striker and these positions was in periods in the last two games, a bit too big.

“So we didn't bring our midfielders, like Anton [Stach] or Ao [Tanaka] and Sean [Longstaff], more in this position that they can play the finishing pass and can be dangerous. And the same also with our wingers, we have to come a bit closer to the striker in order to create more. And this was a bit the problem.

"This is something we've also addressed, we have to be better in the areas where it really counts, and also to keep the ball better in more difficult situations. This was also something that we have not just addressed, but also worked on the training pitch in recent days, and hopefully we can bring it back on the pitch as well."

One of the problems for Leeds in possession at Forest was that the hosts pressed them and the right-footed Jaka Bijol in particular towards the left touchline, forcing an almost option-less centre-back to go long off his weaker foot.

On those occasions the ball soon found its way back to Forest. Should Bijol retain his place then Leeds' build up will have to be better, sharper and arguably quicker if they are to avoid a repeat against Villa.

But what they must certainly avoid like the plague is a repeat of the scenes that led to goals for Bournemouth, Burnley, West Ham, Brighton and Forest. Free men in the area getting on the end of second balls, crosses or cut-backs.

Farke says it has been spoken about at length at Thorp Arch and worked on ahead of the Villa clash.

At Brighton specifically he saw a problem with challenges prior to the ball arriving in the area and then a lack of precision in defending the box.

“We have clear principles on how we want to defend in the box”

"Cut-back defending is normally a topic we're pretty, pretty good at and was the problem at Brighton," he said.

"It was a bit like not enough pressure on the ball in the build-up. So normally, something that we've shown in the games before. We were always compact, we were never really open but the bravery to go into the duels, to lead the duels, that was the first problem. Then obviously, also how we defend a cross.

“We have clear principles on how we want to defend in the box. Don't want to name it too much, to do much name dropping or finger pointing. Everyone can analyse the scenes. But I think it was also quite obvious.

“We were then not spot on, and this was important to speak about internally a lot. And the best solution is always work on the training pitch to work on these topics on the training pitch, because this is what we've shown, especially in the first seven, eight game days.

"I wouldn't say we have allowed too many chances for Nottingham, but somehow, it's a fact they have scored three goals. And to concede three goals is too much to win anything in this league.

“So definitely, we're pretty, pretty self critical in these terms. We have worked on it, and let's hope the players bring it in a better way on the pitch than they did in the last away games."