Daniel Farke on Leeds United point against Brentford, Joe Rodon injury update and Willy Gnonto stance

Whites boss Daniel Farke said there was no doubt that Leeds United’s point against Brentford was a good one as he also gave updates on Joe Rodon and Willy Gnonto after Sunday’s 1-1 draw with the Bees.

Farke’s side went into Sunday’s first home game of the new Premier League season following back-to-back wins at Nottingham Forest in the Premier League opener and then Carabao Cup but Leeds were heading for defeat as a dominant Brentford side led 1-0 at the break.

The classy Kevin Schade had fired the Bees ahead in the 41st minute, just seven minutes after Leeds had lost centre-back Joe Rodon to what appeared to be a hamstring injury.

Rodon was replaced by summer signing Nico Elvedi for a Premier League debut and Farke then made two more changes during the break as Jaka Bijol and Brenden Aaronson were replaced by Ao Tanaka and Harry Wilson.

Leeds improved but with United still unable to break Brentford down Farke made another double change in the 69th minute as Lukas Nmecha and Dan James were bought on to replace Noah Okafor and Jayden Bogle.

Nmecha in particularly quickly made an impact, the striker setting up Dominic Calvert-Lewin to net a 79th-minute equaliser, after which Farke’s side pushed for a winner.

Even an honest Farke, though, admitted that a winner would have been a bit much on reflection of the whole game as he saluted a good point against a very highly rated Brentford side who approached the contest having scored 20 goals in their last four games including the club’s last two friendlies.

Farke also provided updates on Rodon and unused substitute Willy Gnonto who is the subject of interest from Fiorentina.

Farke confirmed that Rodon had indeed suffered a hamstring injury that would be need to be assessed and said Gnonto was totally focused and in his plans, the Italian’s recent return from injury a factor in the winger not getting off the bench.

Asked by the YEP for his assessment of the game and if that was a good point, Farke said: “Yes, definitely a good point for us. A very difficult, complicated game like expected, Brentford in red hot form.

"They were excellent in the first half and fully deserved to be in the lead at half-time and they were the better side.

"I'm very proud of my boys of the reaction because I've asked a lot today.

"Once you have such a good start to the season, back to back wins on the road at Nottingham in the league and then the cup and then the first home game everyone is expecting suddenly anyhow there you go.

"But then a red hot and in-form side Brentford shows up and plays such a first half, so much quality. It was difficult for us.

"Of course, we could have been a bit braver in the first half, but Brentford was also so good and deserved to be in the lead.

"Also difficult with injuries. We had to substitute a key player like Joe Rodon out and then in the second half, I was asking a lot from our players because we changed the base formation at half-time, brought new players again in after the substitution first half.

"We got control back but didn't find more or less a solution in order to open them and create chance to score goals.

"We changed again the base formation in the end again until we then more or less ask the right question and we found a way to open them and to equalise and the final minutes, even to push perhaps for a winner.

"It would have been perhaps even a bit too much out of this game because you have to say that Brentford with this excellent performance deserves a lot.

"I'm very happy with our defensive behaviour because you have to go back a long while when Brentford has just scored just one goal and are not used to so little.

"We could have been a little bit braver in the first half, that's right yes. We played with too many long balls and too many balls into Dominic and went for second balls and each and every goal kick was long into a compact set up. But that's also due to the good pressing Brentford has.

"But if you go for all these long balls and second balls, in these terms Brentford is second to none in this league and for that it was important to be brave in the second half, to change a lot.

“All credit goes to my players because it's of course prepared on the training pitch and during pre-season.

“But to show this then on this stage with the pressure during a game after a difficult first half to be adaptable, and then to play in different positions and then to adapt in this way that we then found also the solution is outstanding to show again this mental resilience also like this, never say die attitude.

“Out of many, many aspects, I'm very happy with this point, and especially with the performance and the reaction of my players."

Asked for an update on Rodon and also Gnonto amid reports of interest from Fiorentina, Farke said: "Joe Rodon looks like a hamstring injury. It was not possible for him to sprint, and to run, was also painful and we have to assess him right now.

"I hope he's not out too long because he's a key player and especially also on the centre back position we don't have too many senior options.

"It was a difficult game for Nico (Elvdi) to come in and I'm happy who he adapted to this game, thank God we have him with us.

"But of course it will be a big blow if Joe is out for a while.

"With Willy, if there would be something he wouldn't be in the squad today. I just have players who are really focused.

"I was happy that Willy is and since today back in team training and he adapted his body, reacted in a positive way.

"Normally after just two days back in training after injury, you don't find a spot, but at the moment, the group is not too big. And for that, we had him on the bench.

"It would have been brave enough to bring him perhaps for 10-15 minutes today because after injury for more minutes he was not to available.,

“but due to the fact that we had to substitute for example on the defensive position with Joe Rodon it was also not possible to bring him in.

"But with Willy, as long as he's here, he's fully in my plans. He was also totally focused and fully committed and didn't have any other signs, otherwise he wouldn't be in the squad."