Luke Ayling makes Leeds United defensive admission assessing Whites start to Premier League campaign

LUKE AYLING says Leeds United’s squad feel they should have more points on the board - but admits the Whites cannot expect anything if conceding eight goals in two games.
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Marcelo Bielsa's newly-promoted Whites will return from the November international break sat 15th in the Premier League table having slipped down the order following back-to-back 4-1 defeats.

Having taken ten points from their first six games, United lined up for their Elland Road date against Leicester City at the beginning of the month knowing a win would send them third but a brace from Youri Tielemans plus strikes from Jamie Vardy and Harvey Barnes gave the Foxes a three-goal victory.

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After then falling behind to a 12th-minute Scott Dann header in the subsequent clash at Crystal Palace, Leeds then saw what looked like a perfectly good Patrick Bamford equaliser ruled out for the striker being offside with his arm as part of another 4-1 reverse.

ASSESSMENT: From Leeds United defender Luke Ayling. Photo by ALEX PANTLING/POOL/AFP via Getty Images.ASSESSMENT: From Leeds United defender Luke Ayling. Photo by ALEX PANTLING/POOL/AFP via Getty Images.
ASSESSMENT: From Leeds United defender Luke Ayling. Photo by ALEX PANTLING/POOL/AFP via Getty Images.

United's next assignment will present a test against Mikel Arteta's 11th-placed Arsenal side in Sunday's 4.30pm kick-off at Elland Road and Aylling said the Leeds squad had mixed feelings about their side's start to life back in the top division.

“Overall, I think we’ve started well, but the last two games have been disappointing," Ayling told LUTV.

“To let in eight goals in the Premier League and expect to get anything from it, that’s not going to happen, so we have to tighten up there.

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“We have still been in games though and I don’t think the score-lines have been fair if you really look at it.

“We’re eight games in and have 10 points, so it’s not the worst start in the world, but certainly inside the dressing room, we think we should have a few more points on the board.”

United began the season with a 4-3 loss at champions Liverpool which was followed by a victory via the same scoreline at Fulham. A 1-0 triumph at Sheffield United was then followed by a 1-1 draw at home to title favourites Manchester City before a 1-0 reverse at home to Wolves.

Leeds' 4-1 losses to Palace and Leicester then came on the back of a 3-0 romp at Aston Villa.

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United's next six opponents all sit above them in the Premier League table with Sunday's clash against Arsenal followed by a trip to seventh-placed Everton the following weekend.

Leeds will then take on fifth-placed Chelsea at Stamford Bridge over the first weekend of December, a game followed by an Elland Road date against 12th-placed West Ham United one week later.

A midweek hosting of 13th-placed Newcastle United is next before Leeds will lock horns with 14th-placed Manchester United at Old Trafford in their last game before Christmas.

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Thank you Laura Collins

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