da cassino online： Championship table-toppers Leeds United fell to a heavy 4-2 defeat against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on New Year’s Day.
da gbg bet： The home side produced a fine performance to secure the much-needed win, and ease some of the pressure building on manager Aitor Karanka, but things may have been very different but for the first-half sending off of Leeds man Kalvin Phillips.
On the Chalkboard
Phillips was deservedly shown a straight red card in the 42nd minute following a dangerous foul on Adlene Guedioura. His dismissal forced the Whites down to ten men, with one of their centre-backs heading for an early bath.
Pl>ymaker FC’s Theo Ogden made the 100 mile trip from Bolton to Hull only to see his side demolished 6-0 by the Tigers. Check out his reaction in the video above…
However, Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa opted not to sacrifice a more advanced player in order to bring his back line back up to a full compliment. As the game went on, Leeds were ultimately punished for this decision, as their under-manned and exhausted rearguard couldn’t hold out until the final whistle.
Three Forest goals in the final 21 minutes of the 90 saw them turn the game on its head and secure the three points for themselves. Had Bielsa elected to replace the dismissed Phillips at the back, perhaps his side could have held on.
The Whites’ weakness
However, that would have required the sacrifice of a more attacking player, and given the only defensive options Bielsa had available to him on the bench were 19-year-old full-back Leif Davis and 20-year-old centre-back Aapo Halme – who have amassed just five league outings between them this season – it is perhaps unsurprising that Bielsa was reluctant to field such inexperienced members of his squad in such a big game.
This is an issue Leeds will face on future occasions though, as Bielsa prefers to work with a very small squad, stocked with youth players.
Whilst the Argentine coach’s methods are exciting, innovative, and have led to some beautiful football being played at Elland Road, the sparseness of his ranks could ultimately be the club’s undoing this season.
They’re top of the table now, but the Championship campaign is a notoriously gruelling one. Before it is done, Leeds’ lack of depth and experience could see them topple from their promotion-chasing perch.