Leeds United's winless run in the Premier League stretched to five games after a 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth, with a critical error from goalkeeper James Trafford proving decisive. The loss at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday leaves Daniel Farke's side seventh in the table with 11 points from eight matches, now ten points adrift of leaders Manchester City. Their overall record now stands at two wins, five draws and one loss, having scored nine goals and conceded six this season.
Bournemouth took the lead in the 32nd minute after Trafford's misplaced pass gave the ball away cheaply in his own area. Justin Kluivert seized possession and squared for Francisco Evanilson to slot home his fourth goal of the season. Leeds had started brightly and thought they had taken an early lead themselves, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin's 11th-minute finish was ruled out for handball.
Despite having more of the ball and registering ten shots, Leeds struggled to create clear chances, finishing the game with an expected goals figure of just 0.61. Their top scorer Calvert-Lewin, who has three goals this season, was largely kept quiet. The contest was sealed deep into stoppage time when Amine Adli converted Eli Kroupi's cross to make it 2-0, securing Bournemouth's sixth consecutive clean sheet across all competitions.
Farke's frustration
Manager Daniel Farke was left to rue a costly individual mistake in an otherwise competitive performance. "We are disappointed we travel away without points. Football is brutal sometimes," Farke said. "We would have deserved so much more out of this game." He pinpointed the moment that changed the match, adding, "It was self-inflicted, an own goal. This was decisive.
They have scored only nine league goals this term while conceding six. This result follows a goalless draw at Sunderland on 25 October and a 1-1 home draw with Manchester United on 18 October, preceded by a 2-1 loss at Arsenal on 10 October and a 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace on 20 September, making their recent run zero wins, three draws and two losses.
Attention now turns to a key home fixture next Saturday against Tottenham Hotspur, who currently sit 14th. Farke's men will need to find a cutting edge quickly to arrest their slide and improve upon a record of two wins, five draws and one loss.
More detail at The Athletic
