Leeds United boss Daniel Farke 'not alarmed' by barren run after Brentford draw as Pascal Struijk update issued
Leeds United blanked for a fourth consecutive Premier League game in their goalless draw with Brentford - but manager Daniel Farke is not alarmed.
The Bees held the Whites to a draw under the lights at Elland Road, successfully stifling the Leeds attack.
It is an attack that has been misfiring of late and one that has not produced a league goal from open play since February 10, when Noah Okafor netted in a 2-2 draw with Chelsea.
Leeds are still battling for survival in the Premier League but Farke is not hitting the panic button over his side’s struggle for goals.
Daniel Farke ‘not alarmed’
He said: “I’m not alarmed because over the course of 38 games, you have these periods. Overall, we have scored many goals. We have had periods where we have conceded too many. It’s more the other way around [now].
“I’m happy that we have [kept] clean sheets in this game, [against] Crystal Palace and also in the FA Cup game against Norwich. Today, I would judge this game isolated because they had a really, really good defensive area. You have to accept this.”
The 49-year-old did, however, accept Leeds were not as sharp as they needed to be in the final third at times.
He said: “You could feel, especially in the second half, we had lots of momentum. Then it’s more or less what was missing a bit - the anticipation. For example, Pascal Struijk’s header after a corner. Normally we have a clear process who goes on the far post and is there with the tap-in. We didn’t do the run.
“The last final imagination, anticipation where the ball comes down, was missing a little bit. We have to settle for a point and also for a valuable point and clean sheet.
“If you score the first goal, the opponent has to open up a bit more. It’s all a bit easier. If not, then it’s more like you have to make a tight game and wait for the moment where you find this quality in order to finish one of your chances.”
Pascal Struijk update
The run-in is a terrible time for the injury list to build and there was concern in the stands when Pascal Struijk exited the pitch rather gingerly.
Farke moved to allay fears of a fresh fitness blow and is hoping it was just a case of cramp.
He said: “I hope it’s just a cramp and nothing major. The first assessment was okay so not an injury, just a bit fatigued because he had many sprints today.
“The game was stretched. We had to defend many counter-attacks against players like [Kevin] Schade and [Igor] Thiago and later on [Dango] Ouattara. He had to put lots of high-speed distance in and I think he was just a bit tired. It shouldn’t be too bad.”