Kyle Newbould: I watched Leeds United's 1-1 draw vs Brentford - their end to the transfer window just got busier
Key takeaways from Leeds United’s 1-1 draw at home to Brentford on Sunday.
Leeds United fought back from a goal down to draw 1-1 at home to Brentford on Sunday. Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s close-range goal capped off a much-improved second-half performance to make it three games unbeaten to start the season.
Visitors Brentford dominated early proceedings at Elland Road and were rewarded on 41 minutes when Kevin Schade stabbed home Keane Lewis Potter’s cross. Daniel Farke made two changes at the break and Leeds came out with more intent.
Calvert-Lewin’s goal on 79 minutes levelled things and despite the efforts of both sides, a winner could not be found. Below are three of the YEP’s key takeaways from the day.
Wilson status change
There was a surprise at 12:45pm when Farke announced his starting line-up, with new signing Harry Wilson on the bench and Noah Okafor starting in his place. Okafor’s presence in the XI wasn’t a shock but the fact he replaced Wilson, with Brenden Aaronson starting on the right, did raise an eyebrow.
Aaronson frustrated for much of the first-half and was replaced by Wilson at the break, with Leeds reverting to a back four and looking better for it. The free agent arrival didn’t play a part in Calvert-Lewin’s leveller but had some decent moments.
Wilson’s start to life at Leeds has been decent enough, and the Welshman showed some promising signs, but it felt like he was undroppable at Fulham and that status hasn’t been instantly brought over to Elland Road. And that is no bad thing. The hope is competition bring out the best of him.
Fresh transfer need
Leeds were a long way from their best during the first-half on Sunday and suffered a worrying injury blow around the half-hour mark, with Joe Rodon down feeling his leg before being replaced by Nico Elvedi. The Welshman looked dejected while trudging around the outside of the pitch and with Farke confirming a hamstring injury, his issue could force Elland Road chiefs into action.
Farke now has just three fit senior centre-backs at his disposal, which is very light when you consider he plays a back-three formation. There is no cover. Leeds might have been happy with four, given the ability of Elvedi or Jaka Bijol to play across multiple roles, but they’re now just one more injury away from serious problems.
The transfer window shuts in just over 24 hours and while Leeds continue to push for attacking reinforcements, defensive cover might just have become a priority. The last few days of the summer window have just got busier.
Adaptability promise
Farke described facing Brentford as one of the Premier League’s most complicated challenges after full-time on Sunday but his own side can ask a lot of opposing managers too. Leeds started in the 3-4-2-1 formation we’ve become used to before Rodon’s injury and a poor first half fuelled a half-time switch to a back four.
They played 4-2-3-1 for a while and then the introduction of Daniel James and Lukas Nmecha forced another tactical tweak, the latter joining Calvert-Lewin upfront in something resembling a 3-5-2. It was those final two changes that set Leeds up to level.
Leeds have become a lot harder to predict in recent months, not only able to switch formations but also the intensity and directness in which they attack. Brentford gave Farke plenty of headaches but Leeds can hand out a few of their own as well.