Daniel Farke pleased with point from Palace clash as Leeds prepare for tough run
Leeds extended their unbeaten Premier League start to five matches and sit fifth in the table
Daniel Farke focused on another point won with “difficult weeks lying ahead” after Leeds were held to a goalless home draw by Crystal Palace.
Leeds extended their unbeaten Premier League start to five matches and sit fifth in the table after struggling to carve out clear chances against a much-improved Palace, who had lost three of their previous four matches.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin had Leeds’ best chance when his point-blank second-half effort was well saved by Walter Benitez, while Palace also created several openings and were worthy of their point.
Farke said: “Overall, we all know we can’t complain too much. A difficult start, the away games, and also likes of Brentford, Newcastle, and now Crystal Palace. Not the easiest home game.
“So for that, yes, we know that we have done many things right. We are nine points after five game days. If you have this point average at the end of the season, then happy days.
“And the position in the table is awesome. But it’s not important for me. It’s important that we are already on nine points because difficult weeks are also lying ahead after the international break.”
Leeds face Arsenal, Manchester United, Sunderland, Bournemouth, Tottenham and Chelsea in their next six league fixtures after the three-week break.
Expectation was high among Leeds fans after Monday night’s impressive 4-1 win against Newcastle, but Leeds failed to reproduce that attacking form against an organised, determined Palace defence.
Farke added: “Sometimes on a scruffy Sunday afternoon you have to dig in. It was one of those games.
“Offensive-wise, football-wise, it was definitely not our best game. We were a bit too loose with the ball, we didn’t move the ball quick enough because credit to Crystal Palace, they were well-structured and difficult to open and defended really well.”
Palace had conceded 11 goals in their first four matches, more than any Premier League rival, and the pressure was mounting on new boss Pierre Sage.
But their well-marshalled defence was rarely stretched, while Tyrick Mitchell had what would have been the winner ruled out by VAR for offside and Yeremy Pino’s free-kick was brilliantly saved by Leeds goalkeeper James Trafford.
Sage said: “Especially when I read the social media, there’s a big pressure.
“But you know, I don’t care about that. I do my job with honesty. I give my best with my skills and my limits. And at the end, I have no regret with what I do.”
The 47-year-old former Lens manager added: “I think this group is special, ready to to fight, ready to change things, ready to understand another way of thinking (about) football and maybe playing it.
“And the most important thing is that they enjoy it on the pitch during the session, and in this place they can play together, they can play as a team, and I think you you saw that from three or four games now.”