It is hard to say with hindsight but regardless of the result at Fulham last week, I suspect the issue of Leeds United’s goal return would still have reared its head this week. The late loss at Craven Cottage meant it was pretty much all anyone focussed on, and because of that it’s hard to not think it would have been front and centre as a topic for discussion even if Leeds had returned home with a point.<\/p>\n
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There’s no denying a draw in the capital would have put a sunnier complexion on things heading to a game against Premier League basement strugglers Wolverhampton Wanderers, but still there would be a nagging issue which could not be ignored.<\/p>\n
Leeds have not scored since the opening game of the season and with that solitary goal coming from the penalty spot, they’ve not scored in open play this season.<\/p>\n
“If this unbelievably unlucky own goal (vs Fulham) doesn’t happen, everyone would just focus on the third clean sheet and five points. No one would even speak too much about our offence,” was manager Daniel Farke’s take in his pre-match press conference.<\/p>\n
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I can see why Farke would make such a defence, but it doesn’t hold water for me. Yes, against Fulham Leeds produced a number of shots that hit double figures, but the accuracy was just 30 percent and against Newcastle United before that it was only 10 percent.<\/p>\n
Chance creation is an issue, but the quality of chances and the ability to take those chances is also a problem. Farke knows this. It’s why this week in training a lot of the focus has been on small sided games, with shooting drills commonplace.<\/p>\n
For all the practice, much of it is to do with confidence. Leeds have the quality, they just need to find their rhythm and get a bit more confidence in front of goal.<\/p>\n
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You can practice scoring techniques and shooting drills all you want, but sometimes it just needs a fortuitous bounce or a toe poke into the corner of the net to set the ball rolling. Against a team with a defence as leaky as Wolves, that opportunity could come Leeds’ way this afternoon.<\/p>\n
It’s far from win or bust after just a handful of games this season and the calendar having not even ticked over into November yet, but it can’t be avoided that today is an opportunity you feel Leeds need to take. If not to win three points, then certainly to break that duck of a goal from open play.<\/p>\n
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