Refereeing decisions in London, Kalvin Phillips blow and a big week ahead - Leeds United talking points

Refereeing decisions, London record but still plenty of chances

Leeds United and London - where Marcelo Bielsa and the Whites go for pain and misery.

United's last three visits to the capital in Championship action have been marred by controversy, and at Loftus Road on Saturday lunchtime it was to be no different.

A wider record of nine defeats in 10 across all competitions in the big smoke - with the other a draw - set the alarm bells ringing.

But at Millwall in October Gaetano Berardi was dismissed for an air kick, at Fulham in December a phantom penalty given against Ben White and at QPR this weekend Nahki Wells was allowed to turn into a basketball player.

During the Whites recent faltering run of form Bielsa's outfit have many faults and reasons to point at themselves, but Peter Bankes' failure to spot not one but two clear handballs meant another refereeing decision aided to their downfall.

Patrick Bamford missed a penalty, he and his team-mates again spurned chance after chance and Kalvin Phillips was deservedly dismissed late on - all problems of Leeds' own making.

A young bench and a lack of options for United to turn to were also evident, but major decisions from match officials impact games and it's hard to get far from the fact that three in London recently have set the Whites on their way to defeats.

Leeds create opportunities at will, and a lack of a killer instinct in front of goal is clearly harming their promotion chances among other things.

United's own deficiencies, though, have been hard enough to overcome without throwing in more poor officiating that has already cost Bielsa's men enough this term.

Kalvin Phillips a big miss - and who will replace him?

A three game ban for Kalvin Phillips is the last headache Bielsa wanted leaving West London.

With Adam Forshaw sidelined - a natural replacement in United's holding role in midfield - the Argentine is short of natural options.

Forshaw's hip issue has kept him sidelined for four months, and there is still no time frame over his return to action.

Jamie Shackleton's reemergence to United's matchday squad in recent weeks may help solve the issue, but United are reliant on Phillips as a key figure in front of the back four.

The 24-year-old will now miss the visits of Millwall and Wigan to Elland Road while the trip to Nottingham Forest in early February could prove a pivotal fixture in the promotion race.

Bielsa has a gap to fill, and it is a difficult one.

Ben White was trained up in Phillips' absence last month at Huddersfield while Shackleton, Mateusz Klich or even Stuart Dallas could provide cover in the deeper role if needed.

Another Thorp Arch academy product Alfie McCalmont also provides another option to help fill the void having been handed his first-team debut by the Argentine earlier this season.

A big week ahead

With less than two weeks remaining in the transfer market, Leeds now face a week without a game.

United's defeat to Arsenal in the FA Cup leaves the Whites with a free weekend which will allow a few days rest for Bielsa's squad.

More importantly, though, the club can now focus their attention towards the transfer market in an attempt to replace those who Leeds have lost this month.

Eddie Nketiah's void is clear with no second striking option while United's head coach also wants a winger to replace Jack Clarke who departed earlier this month.

The Whites are working hard at targets, and the coming week now seems a crucial point that could set up the final 19 games of the season with the boosts of incomings to lift the squad and supporters after a difficult run of form.