da dobrowin： Leeds have been fantastic in defence all season so it was very uncharacteristic of the team to not only throw away a big lead, but to concede as many as three goals in one match.
da realbet： Prior to the visit of Cardiff the Whites had taken nine previous matches to concede three goals, and though some supporters feel the absence of Liam Cooper was crucial to the decline, it is worth considering that he hasn’t been missed much since picking up his latest injury.
The skipper has missed the last three Leeds matches, and in that time the side kept two clean sheets, with Gaetano Berardi filling in very well alongside Ben White.
A true test for any Leeds fan: Can you match these iconic images with the right results?
In fact, it wasn’t until the Swiss was substituted that Leeds’ collapse against Cardiff took place, and therefore the reactions below may be a little misguided in terms of which defender was missed most against the Bluebirds.
Marcelo Bielsa made the wrong call to bring on youngster Pascal Struijk. His mistake allowed the visitors to claim their equaliser, which would likely not have occurred with Berardi or Cooper on the pitch.
While Cooper wasn’t missed prior to the Cardiff match, some fans raise a good point about his leadership qualities, and Bielsa’s side could certainly have done with a composed figure to calm things down and reassure the rest of the players on Saturday, especially as the 28-year-old has been playing well recently.
In that sense he was needed, with one supporter suggesting the problems that led to the surrendering of the lead will be fixed upon his return to the side.
Other fans share a similar sentiment, hoping that he makes a return sooner rather than later, particularly as Fulham and Aleksandar Mitrovic – who has 16 Championship goals this season – are the next opponents for Leeds.
Elsewhere, Leeds supporters have also been discussing what else led to the capitulation, and Marcelo Bielsa is being criticised for his role in throwing the game away.