Leeds’ defensive crisis deepens as Ayling limps off vs Newcastle

By Conor Laird


Published: September 17, 2021 10:20 pm

Last Updated: September 17, 2021 10:26 pm

The defensive personnel crisis facing Leeds United has continued to worsen this evening, on the back of the club’s meeting with Newcastle United.

Saint-Maximin secures a share of the spoils

Marcelo Bielsa’s men were of course back in Premier League action a short time ago.

The Whites made the trip to St. James’ Park, eyeing up a much-needed 3-point haul on the back of an altogether shaky start to the campaign.

When all was said and done on Tyneside, however, at the 5th time of asking, Leeds again failed to secure a first league win of 2021/22.

The visitors did take the lead in proceedings early on, when a concerted spell of pressure culminated in Raphinha’s devilish delivery to the back post making its way beyond Karl Darlow:

“Brazilian brilliance!” 🇧🇷

Raphinha swings a peach of a cross into the area as Rodrigo darts in behind Lascelles and shapes to get on the end of it, only to dummy the cross and allow it to sail into the far corner! 🔥

📺 Sky Sports PL
📱 #NEWLEE 👉 https://t.co/k9sCWUS6JN pic.twitter.com/kvmANROpln

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 17, 2021

Bielsa and co., though, soon took their foot of the gas, opening the door for Newcastle to work their way back into proceedings.

And this is precisely what the Magpies went on to do on the stroke of the interval, thanking the electrifying Allan Saint-Maximin for another moment of individual brilliance in levelling things up, rounding out the evening’s scoring in the process:

🗣️ “It reminds me of that goal George Best scored all those years ago!”

Would you listen to that roar! 🤯

Saint-Maximin weaves his way past three defenders before rifling a shot into the far corner 🔥

📺 Sky Sports PL
📱 #NEWLEE 👉 https://t.co/k9sCWUS6JN pic.twitter.com/GTOtm2IYrJ

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 17, 2021

Ayling blow

All associated with Leeds, in turn, will no doubt be left pondering what could have been…

The visitors dominated the opening exchanges on Friday, and could easily have added to their solitary goal of the night early on. In the end, though, they were simply not clinical enough.

And, as outlined above, the hopes of Marcelo Bielsa and co. of finally kickstarting their campaign with a win next time out were also dealt something of a blow versus Newcastle.

Remarkably, with all of Pascal Struijk (suspended), Diego Llorente (injured) and Robin Koch (injured) already unavailable for selection, Leeds’ defensive options were thinned even further when Luke Ayling was forced to limp out of the action at St. James’.

As things stand, it remains unclear whether Ayling faces a spell on the sidelines, but the 30-year-old looked in some degree of discomfort in making his way off the pitch…

Ayling off injured.

Leeds don’t have many defenders left…

— Andy (@LetsTalk_FPL) September 17, 2021

On the flip side of things, Fantasy Premier League owners of the likes of Michail Antonio and Said Benrahma will no doubt be licking their lips this evening.

This comes with West Ham next up for injury-ravaged Leeds, in an Elland Road showdown on Saturday the 25th of September.

Amid claims of Barcelona talks, Man United fans won’t be happy with Mino Raiola’s latest Paul Pogba comments

Trent Alexander-Arnold names Chelsea icon as toughest-ever Premier League opponent

Leeds betting odds, next game:

Leeds vs West Ham odds: result, both teams to score, correct score & goalscorers

Leeds’s latest videos

Keepy uppies, dribbling and passing drills | Inside Training

Go behind-the-scenes as we get set for our trip to Newcastle. The players get…

2021-09-16T16:30:05Z

Team news, style of play, Bruce | Marcelo Bielsa press conference | Newcastle United v Leeds United

Watch the key moments from Marcelo Bielsa’s pre-match press conference ahead of our game…

2021-09-16T14:00:04Z

Player	Team	Goals
Antonio, Michail	West Ham United	4
Fernandes, Bruno	Manchester United	4
Salah, Mohamed	Liverpool FC	3
Lukaku, Romelu	Chelsea FC	3
Gray, Demarai	Everton FC	3
Calvert-Lewin, Dominic	Everton FC	3
Greenwood, Mason	Manchester United	3
Saint-Maximin, Allan	Newcastle United	2
Benrahma, Said	West Ham United	2
Ings, Danny	Aston Villa	2
Vardy, Jamie	Leicester City	2
Fornals, Pablo	West Ham United	2
Torres, Ferran	Manchester City	2
Gallagher, Conor	Crystal Palace	2
Ronaldo, Cristiano	Manchester United	2
Son, Heung Min	Tottenham Hotspur	2
Wilson, Callum	Newcastle United	2
Mane, Sadio	Liverpool FC	2
Maupay, Neal	Brighton & Hove Albion	2
Jota, Diogo	Liverpool FC	2

Player	Team	Red Cards	Yellow Cards
Pogba, Paul	Manchester United	0	3
Cooper, Liam	Leeds United	0	3
Etebo, Oghenekaro	Watford FC	0	3
Doucoure, Abdoulaye	Everton FC	0	2
Fernandes, Bruno	Manchester United	0	2
Richarlison	Everton FC	0	2
Dennis, Emmanuel	Watford FC	0	2
Duffy, Shane	Brighton & Hove Albion	0	2
Norgaard, Christian	Brentford FC	0	2
Mings, Tyrone	Aston Villa	0	2
Rodri	Manchester City	0	2
Rice, Declan	West Ham United	0	2
Struijk, Pascal	Leeds United	1	1
Tanganga, Japhet	Tottenham Hotspur	0	1
Moreno, Rodrigo	Leeds United	0	2
Schar, Fabian	Newcastle United	0	2
Kane, Harry	Tottenham Hotspur	0	2
Stephens, Jack	Southampton FC	0	2
Marcal, Fernando	Wolverhampton Wanderers	0	2
Moura, Lucas	Tottenham Hotspur	0	2

Player	Team	Assists
Pogba, Paul	Manchester United	7
Antonio, Michail	West Ham United	3
Doucoure, Abdoulaye	Everton FC	3
Jesus, Gabriel	Manchester City	3
Salah, Mohamed	Liverpool FC	2
Saint-Maximin, Allan	Newcastle United	2
Benrahma, Said	West Ham United	2
Townsend, Andros	Everton FC	2
Kovacic, Mateo	Chelsea FC	2
Bamford, Patrick	Leeds United	2
James, Reece	Chelsea FC	2
Gross, Pascal	Brighton & Hove Albion	2
Pereira, Ricardo	Leicester City	2
Alexander-Arnold, Trent	Liverpool FC	2
Ings, Danny	Aston Villa	1
Vardy, Jamie	Leicester City	1
Fornals, Pablo	West Ham United	1
Torres, Ferran	Manchester City	1
Gallagher, Conor	Crystal Palace	1
Zaha, Wilfried	Crystal Palace	1