Report: Palace and Leeds in stalemate at Elland Road

Up against a Leeds side who went into the weekend third in the Premier League table, Pierre Sage’s side arguably enjoyed the better of the chances at Elland Road, whilst showing enough defensive steel to keep a first clean sheet of the league season.

An end-to-end contest was lacking nothing for effort or quality in the build-up play, with only a VAR intervention denying Tyrick Mitchell in the second-half, as Palace were ultimately forced to settle for a point against the hosts in West Yorkshire.

Summary:

- Two changes for Palace after European win, with Tomiyasu and Canvot back in.

• 8: Muharemovic heads wide as Leeds threaten from early set-pieces.
• 10: The centre-back then makes a last-ditch challenge to deny Strand Larsen.
• 22: Tanaka blazes over from a ricochet inside the Palace box.
• 24: Kamada tests Trafford following a lay-off from Strand Larsen.
• 31: Timber and Wharton both have efforts blocked in an end-to-end first-half.
• HT: Leeds 0-0 Palace
  - 49: Pino’s whipped free-kick is palmed around the post by Trafford.
• 49: The subsequent corner reaches Lerma, but the Colombian blazes over.
• 50: Kamada threatens with a fierce low drive across goal.
• 52: Mitchell sidefoots into the net, but Khalaili is judged to be offside in the build-up.
• 56: Benítez makes brilliant reaction save to deny Calvert-Lewin from close range.
• 70: More fine build-up play creates space for Kamada, but Ampadu denies him.
• 84: Kamada heads wide from a promising position.
• FT: Leeds 0-0 Palace

The Eagles came into the match full of confidence after an impressive UEFA Europa League debut, dispatching Polish league champions Lech Poznań 4-0 at Selhurst Park on Thursday night.

Unsurprisingly, Manager Pierre Sage elected to make just two changes: Axel Disasi, suspended, and Honest Ahanor were replaced in the backline by Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jaydee Canvot.

Up against a Leeds side who had also hit four in their previous game – versus Newcastle United on Monday night – their mettle would be test early on, with the hosts’ trademark blend of pace and physicality seeing Palace under some early pressure from set-pieces, Tarik Muhamerović heading wide.

But Palace had their moments too, their sharp passing advancing the ball into some promising positions quickly. Quinten Timber was ever-industrious in the opening stages and it was one driving run which led to him slipping in Jørgen Strand Larsen – fresh from three goals in his last two games – only for Muhamerović to deny him on the slide.

It was an entertaining contest, albeit one light on clear chances in front of goal – although Ao Tanaka probably ought to have done better for Leeds on 22 minutes as he half-volleyed over from close range after Palace struggled to clear a long throw.

Up the other end, Strand Larsen was looking sharp, collecting a ball to feet from captain Adam Wharton, turning and slipping in Daichi Kamada. His effort – on his weaker foot and from an ever-narrowing angle – failed to truly test James Trafford.

It was more Strand Larsen hold-up play which presented Palace with their next two opportunities on the half-hour mark, the Norwegian denied the room to get a shot away from Yéremy Pino’s cross – so instead teeing up Timber.

His first effort was blocked inside the box and, when it popped out to Wharton, the midfielder too was denied by a committed sliding challenge.

So it proved, then, that the first-half would end goalless – certainly not lacking in bite, entertainment or commitment, but just missing the final moment of quality in front of goal.

It was only really when the second-half started that the chances started to flow – and the majority in the early stages went to Palace.

The Eagles reemerged the dominant team in the immediate aftermath of half-time, their fine one-touch passing proving too hot to cope with for Leeds – who gave away a free-kick after tripping Wharton on the edge of the box.

Pino stepped up to take it, whipping an effort the alternative side of the wall, low towards Trafford’s near post – and almost catching the ‘keeper out, forcing him to palm it around the post.

From the subsequent corner, the bouncing ball dropped for Jefferson Lerma to hit – but he could not direct it on target. Moments later, Kamada had room on the edge of the box – his low drive clearing Trafford’s far post, not by much.

The hosts were getting increasingly nervy, the anxiety of the Elland Road crowd palpable – and Palace thought they had taken advantage two minutes later.

Another fine move led to Anan Khalaili making inroads down the right and – although his initial cross was volleyed into the air by the sliding defender – Tyrick Mitchell, fresh from a brace in his last away appearance, steamed in to sidefoot past the advancing Trafford.

It was a brilliant finish – cruelly denied two minutes later after VAR ruled Khalaili to have been offside.

That appeared to give Leeds some encouragement, and they responded with a spell on top of their own, Walter Benítez somehow getting low down to his left to prevent Dominic Calvert-Lewin from side-footing home from six yards from James Justin’s cross – a spectacular save.

Moments later, the Leeds No. 9 was inches away from meeting a flicked-on throw with a diving header – but thankfully, he failed to make contact.

But Palace steadied what can often be a Leeds storm at Elland Road and continued to create, some more lovely one-touch passing involving Wharton and Pino culminating in Kamada being found in space inside the box. Initially, Ethan Ampadu’s tackle on him appeared to be illegal – but upon watching the replay, it was a well-timed goal-saver for the hosts.

But it was Kamada who had arguably the best chance of the match six minutes from time, when Chris Richards had time and space to deliver from deep. The ball appeared to reach the Japan international unsighted but, trying to twist his head to direct the ball back across goal from the far post, it narrowly evaded the side-netting.

It was anyone’s game, and two minutes later – after Palace had gone route one in their defending – Nketiah had the chance to pull the trigger. Squaring instead for Sarr in support, the ball failed to reach his teammate quickly enough, and Leeds could clear.

The two teams traded further blows without any real further chances of note, and Palace were able to take away a fourth Premier League point of the season from a performance full of fight and industry.

Leeds: Trafford (GK), Bogle (James, 67), Gudmundsson (Bahoya, 90+1), Ampadu, Muharemović, Calvert-Lewin, Stach, Okafor (Nmecha, 76), Tanaka (Aaronson, 67), Justin, Elvedi.

Subs: Zetterer (GK), Longstaff, Bijol, Bard, Gruev.

Palace: Benítez (GK), Tomiyasu (Lerma, HT), Richards, Canvot, Khalaili, Timber, Wharton, Mitchell, Pino (Sarr, 81), Kamada, Strand Larsen (Nketiah, 81).

Subs: Matthews (GK), Mingueza, Chilwell, Doucouré, McNeil, Osorio.