It was a day when Leeds realised the harsh realities of being a Premier League team. Two lapses in concentration allowed Bournemouth to leave with a point, preventing the home side from securing back-to-back victories.
Antoine Semenyo was allowed to drill a first-half free-kick under the wall and past a draught excluder of insufficient length. Ironically, Leeds got themselves back into the game thanks to set pieces; Joe Rodon and Sean Longstaff turned things around from corners and Leeds battled to hold on, only to leave Eli Kroupi in space, from where he volleyed home an injury-time leveller.
To go with the defensive mistakes at critical moments, Leeds were also left to rue Dominic Calvert-Lewin missing three excellent chances before Bournemouth took the lead. The summer signing could have netted his first goal at Elland Road as a Leeds player within 15 seconds after being sent through on goal. Instead, a duel with Djordje Petrovic began, which would create the early narrative. The goalkeeper came out on top each time thanks to his reflexes and the poor finishing.
“Normally he scores in this situation,” Daniel Farke said. “If he keeps going like this, I’m pretty sure he will score. Just one team was missing big chances today: that was us, not Bournemouth. In the first half we had more than enough chances to win probably two Premier League games, we missed all of them.”
Leeds were left even more irritated by those misses in the 26th minute when Semenyo thrashed a free-kick from the edge of the area under the wall, defeating the diminutive Brenden Aaronson, who was lying down at the time, and the goalkeeper Karl Darlow, who was not quick enough when it came to reaching the turf.
Considering the proximity of the ball to the goal, there was no need for the wall to jump, but instinct took over. It was the first Leeds have conceded at home this season, but also showed that tiny mistakes are capitalised on at this level.
Leeds’s promising start was looking wasted, as poor decision-making and tentative play crept in. Semenyo’s strike had the opposite effect on Bournemouth, who found their rhythm and increased the tempo when they were in possession, thinking a second could finish the contest, but Leeds are more than happy to fight their way back into a match. They know points procured at home with be imperative this season.
“Leeds is a team with a soul,” said Andoni Iraola. “That made it difficult for us. Four goals came from set pieces and the game has been for me very, very physical. We struggled in the duels, not only in set pieces.”
A moment was required to change the direction of the game and it came via Rodon. Leeds’s height means they are dangerous from set pieces. Longstaff sent a cross to the back post, the Wales centre-back rose and headed towards goal, defeating Petrovic thanks to a Semenyo flick. This restored the volume at Elland Road and decibels will be key when intimidating visitors.
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Bournemouth came out after the break looking calm with the aim of controlling possession. Leeds, however, have plenty of desire to call upon when required. That became evident eight minutes into the second half when Longstaff got off the mark for Leeds with a precision half-volley that cannoned in off the post. Elland Road went wild for the midfielder, but Gabriel Gudmundsson deserved a similar amount of praise for his endeavour to keep the ball in play after recycling a corner. It summed up the attitude of the team, while Longstaff showed there is plenty of quality to go with it.
“We fully deserve to have games on this level,” Farke said. “We fully deserve to be in this best league in the world and out of this we will also gain more and more confidence.”
Leeds were looking to kill the game off but almost came unstuck when Kroupi found space in the box, only to fluff his finish. The warning was not heeded and when David Brooks’s free-kick was headed down by Marcos Senesi, the teenager showed why Bournemouth invested in his composure, while Ethan Ampadu switched off. Not that Iraola could put a price on silencing Elland Road after a battle.
