LEEDS CLAIMED ANOTHER deserved point against one of the Premier League’s ‘big six’ as they drew 0-0 with Manchester United in a dull affair at Elland Road.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side extended their unbeaten away league run to 24 matches, while Leeds have gone six undefeated in the Premier League for the first time since 2002.
Leeds recently beat Manchester City with 10 men at the Etihad Stadium and followed that up at Elland Road on Monday night with a point against Liverpool.
A first win against their arch rivals since a stunning FA Cup upset in 2010 was beyond them, but their remarkable season shows no signs of petering out as they matched their visitors in a clash of very few chances.
Leeds were reminded of the huge chasm that had opened up between the two clubs during their 16-year top-flight exile in a thumping 6-2 defeat to Solskjaer’s side in December.
Whites fans have waited nearly 20 years for a league win against Manchester United – Harry Kewell’s second-half header clinched it 1-0 in 2002 when Solskjaer was a United player – but this encounter has been overshadowed by the fall-out from the European Super League’s attempted coup.
Manchester United’s team bus entered Elland Road with minimum fuss, in contrast to Monday night when angry Leeds fans, who had gathered in protest against the ill-fated Super League, hurled abuse at Liverpool’s squad.
Fans began their own protests at Old Trafford on Saturday and a banner which read ‘£2bn stolen #Glazers out’ was flown over Elland Road before kick-off.
In his programme notes, Leeds director Angus Kinnear described the Super League plans as “deeply cynical”, “seditious” and “a betrayal of every true football supporter”.
On the field, the first 45 minutes was low in intensity and low on chances.
Harry Maguire deflected a cross over the bar with his knee and VAR deemed Luke Shaw had not handled in the penalty area when the ball struck his arm in the 20th minute.
Stuart Dallas’ low shot, easily gathered by Dean Henderson, was the game’s first effort on target in the 35th minute and the next, Marcus Rashford’s free-kick, was brilliantly saved by Illan Meslier just before the interval.
Bruno Fernandes dragged a shot wide early in the second period and the game opened up just after the hour-mark.
Ezgjan Alioski denied Dan James a clear shooting chance in the area and Leeds quickly broke upfield, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka deflecting Helder Costa’s shot over the crossbar.
Mateusz Klich, a 72nd-minute replacement for Costa, curled a tame shot straight at Henderson after cutting inside, while Greenwood’s low effort failed to trouble Meslier.
In a more frantic finale, both sides lacked the killer touch in the area to break the deadlock.
After watching Dan James run around for 80 odd minutes, I regret not becoming a professional footballer.
Kalvin Philips best player by a mile on the pitch today
@Eoin Fitzgerald: he did a job on bruno today infairness.
@Pauly Kels: Bruno hasn’t needed a job done on him for about 2 months. He’s been awful
@Hugh: I agree to a extent Hugh but the lad is been played into the ground for example started vrs real sociedad when 4-0 on aggerate.There has been plenty of opportunities to rest him and others,van de beek should switch he’s squad number from 34 to 88 because that’s the minute he comes on every game. Brutal treatment.
Such a poor game and poor performance from both sides not like the games of old. Hard to watch both teams happy for a draw and playing 10 men behind the ball at times.
@Pauly Kels: Leeds squad very thin from injuries. A few u23s on the bench today. Hence Koch a natural cb coming on once Costa got body slammed.
Leeds will be a force in next few years. Beilsa v good manager 2
Good point given the score lat time and that we had no Rodrigo and Raphinha either.
Pascal Strujk definitely looks like a real player in the making as well. MOT