Leeds fell to their first defeat in 12 games on Saturday afternoon and Fulham boss Scott Parker revealed exactly how he was able to orchestrate an important win for his side.
What did he say?
The Whites have consistently shown great form in the Championship this term but the last two results show they are far from the finished article, and there are key things to work on in order to guarantee promotion.
Robert Glatzel caused them problems with his physicality last week and Aleksandar Mitrovic was able to produce similar success with his style, though Marcelo Bielsa’s team also struggled on the ball at Craven Cottage.
Leeds dominated with 65% possession but good chances were at a premium for the visitors despite their seven shots on target.
Parker explained exactly why that was in his post-match press conference, and his words should be treated as a warning to Bielsa. As reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post, the Fulham boss said:
“Leeds are the most athletic, powerful team that we see but the most structured and patterned team as well,” he said.
“The movements they make are very scripted, we studied Leeds for many games. All week we drilled their movements, to understand what was coming, to know the movements when the ball went in certain places.”
Mixing things up
It is a little difficult to criticise the Argentine when Leeds often play very slick football which allows them to dominate and produce chances, but the lack of variety should be a concern.
The Yorkshire side rely on cutting defences open with intricate passes, and when that doesn’t produce goals they can often be left frustrated.
No player in the squad has averaged more than two successful dribbles per match this term, and that underlines the team’s inability to use their physical attributes to take on defenders and open up space.
As a result, opponent’s can often sit deep and defend in front of the ball, with the knowledge that enough bodies in defence can limit space for Leeds and prevent them from scoring.
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Leeds can often find a way through but if more teams look to emulate Parker’s style then they could drop points.
As a result, Bielsa may need to consider altering his style slightly in response to the Fulham match, as he cannot afford a stuttering run.
Fans were also left impressed by the performance of Aleksandar Mitrovic in the defeat at Craven Cottage, as the striker caused several problems.
