“We didn’t lose because of Mateo Joseph miss” Daniel Farke gives HUGE reason while Protecting fans favorite on sloppy Leeds defeat against Burnley.
In the Championship’s early kick-off between two promotion contenders, Leeds suffered heartbreak, with manager Daniel Farke citing their lack of clinical finishing as the key reason for their defeat. Luca Koleosho’s solo goal in the 18th minute secured a hard-fought win for Scott Parker’s Burnley over the Yorkshire side.
Parker made two changes to his lineup, with Zian Flemming making his debut, replacing Lyle Foster, and Bashir Humphreys stepping in for Connor Roberts to make his league debut. Leeds started brightly and almost took the lead in the opening minute when Mateo Joseph intercepted a loose pass and charged toward goal, but his shot missed the target.
Burnley quickly responded, with Flemming finding Hannibal in the box, though the midfielder’s header went just wide. Burnley continued to press, with Gruev firing a shot on target, but it posed little danger for Leeds’ goalkeeper, Illan Meslier.
The breakthrough came in the 18th minute when Koleosho intercepted the ball deep in his own half and embarked on a brilliant 60-yard solo run, coolly finishing past Meslier. Leeds sought an equaliser, with Wilfried Gnonto getting through on goal, but Burnley keeper James Trafford made a crucial save to maintain the lead.
Burnley, energized by their goal, almost doubled their lead when Jaidon Anthony’s shot was blocked, and Joe Worrall’s header from the ensuing corner drifted wide. Despite Leeds’ push for an equaliser, Burnley held firm and went into halftime with a 1-0 lead.
Leeds began the second half on the attack, with Joseph nearly equalising with a curling effort, only for Trafford to make another key save. As Burnley aimed to protect their lead, Parker made tactical substitutions, bringing on Jeremy Sarmiento for Koleosho and later introducing Josh Cullen for Hannibal.
Leeds continued to press in the final stages, but Burnley’s defense held strong. Humphreys was sent off with a second yellow card in stoppage time, but it was too late for Leeds to capitalize. The final whistle confirmed Burnley’s victory, taking all three points back to Lancashire.
“We have to be self-critical,” Daniel Farke said in a post-match interview. “The key moments of the game were not effective enough. We should have scored early on, and we had several better chances that we didn’t take. Burnley hit us on the counter with an 85-yard break and finished effectively, which was frustrating.
“We’re disappointed not to have turned the game in our favor and frustrated with how we conceded.”
Leeds now has an opportunity to reignite their promotion push with back-to-back matches against struggling teams Cardiff and Coventry, starting with the Bluebirds next week.
**Writer’s View:**
Farke will be frustrated with the result, as Leeds dominated possession but failed to make the most of their opportunities. Their inability to finish allowed Burnley to seize on a defensive lapse and secure the win. For Burnley, this victory is a testament to their resilience and tactical discipline, giving them a boost in confidence as they look to climb the table, while Leeds must sharpen their finishing ahead of their next fixtures.