Reds claim point in war of the roses
It was a sliver of light at the end of a tough week as we came away from Elland Road with a draw. Bryan Mbeumo had given us the lead before conceding a goal just after half time. We managed to hold on to claim a result though.
Leeds will be disappointed to not go ahead and win. They appeared to be in the driving seat after Dominic Calvert Lewin’s equaliser. Unfortunately for them they lacked the killer touch when needed.
Michael Carrick made two changes from the side who lost to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday. Harry Maguire came in for Ayden Heaven while Amad Diallo started above Marcus Rashford. The main talking point was Lisandro Martinez starting after his statements against Jason Wilcox post match. He was sent off the last time we played Leeds.
Daniel Farke named an unchanged side from their narrow loss to Arsenal last weekend. Noah Okofor started hoping to score again after a double at Old Trafford last season. Daniel James failed a fitness test to face his former side.
A physical start
Given the physicality of the home side, it was important that United stood up and be counted. Carlos Baleba managed to ride a couple of challenges to set out his stall. Ethan Ampadu laid a nasty tackle on Bryan Mbeumo that was unpunished by the referee. A pair of bookings for Bruno Fernandes and Gabriel Gudmundsson occurred in quick succession as the game threatened to boil over.
It took until the 26th minute for the first chance of note. Leny Yoro had done well to clear the danger before the home side came again. Anton Stach curled his delivery towards the back post that was met by the head of Nico Elvedi. It was tipped away by Senne Lammens.
Reds get on top
It was the reds who should have opened the scoring moments later though. Youri Tielemans crossed from the right where Mbeumo had stolen ground on the home defense. He directed his header wide though. James Trafford then had to advance from his goal to intercept before Amad Diallo could.
Mbuemo would not be denied on 35 minutes though. Tielemans was the provider yet again as he crossed in from the right. The Cameroon forward snuck ahead of James Justin to stab home at the back post. It was his fourth of the season.
On the back foot
Noussair Mazraoui came on for Lisandro Martinez in what appeared to be a tactical change at half-time. The Moroccan was guilty on conceding the corner that lead to the home side scoring on 51 minutes. Maguire appeared to be blocked by Ampadu from a Stach delivery. Dominic Calvert Lewin reacted first to the bouncing ball to stab home.
Leeds were on the up and looked to press home their advantage. Despite plenty of crosses into the Utd area, the reds were able to stand firm. Stach did have an opportunity from distance but fired over.
Both teams appeared content to take the draw as the game entered the closing stages. There was one moment of drama left in the 92th minute. Lammens came to take a cross but missed the ball. It fell to Stach who looked to have won the game. Mazraoui was on hand to clear off the line.
A point apiece then at the end. It has done little to move united up the table but it demonstrated a certain degree of resilience though. We need to show more of a clinical streak at the other end though. It is another trip ahead on Wednesday as we take on Como before hosting Bournemouth next Sunday. Leeds visit Sunderland the same day.
Leeds United: James Trafford, James Justin, Nico Elvedi, Tarik Muharemovic, Jayden Bogle, Ethan Ampadu, Ao Tanaka (Sean Longstaff 81), Gabriel Gudmundsson, Anton Stach, Noah Okofor (Lukas Nmecha 74), Dominic Calvert Lewin.
Subs not used: Michael Zetterer, Callum Wilson, Brenden Aaronson, Jaka Bijol, Jean Matteo Bahoya, Melvin Bard, Ilia Gruev
Booked: Gabriel Gudmundsson (19), Ethan Ampadu (90+2)
Sent Off: None
Manchester United: Senne Lammens, Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez (Noussair Mazraoui 46), Diogo Dalot, Carlos Baleba (Mason Mount 74), Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans, Bruno Fernandes, Amad Diallo, Bryan Mbeumo
Subs not used: Karl Darlow, Mathjis De Ligt, Marcus Rashford, Matheus Cunha, Joshua Zirkzee, Ayden Heaven, Shea Lacey, Harry Amass.
Booked: Bruno Fernandes (17), Andrey Santos
Sent Off: None
Referee: Darren England
Attendance: 36,983
Simply Red Man of the Match: Carlos Baleba
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