“Toothless, No attacking penetration, The club needs to back Farke in the Market, They are leaving him out to dry at the moment” – Journalist blasts Leeds after shocking loss to Birmingham

Leeds United looked toothless up front as they laboured to a 1-0 defeat against Birmingham, as Leeds Live journalist William Jackson spoke out.

Jackson insisted that Joe Gelhardt, Ian Poveda, Jamie Shackleton and Daniel James didn’t bring enough attacking penetration, which led to defeat at St Andrew’s on Saturday 12 August.

Leeds’ attack has been scrutinised so far this season while striker Patrick Bamford is missing through injury, and Georginio Rutter wasn’t fit to start, as Daniel Farke called for his side to “exhaust” teams.

Writing via Leeds Live, Jackson shared: “Gelhardt, Poveda, Shackleton and James aren’t bringing any attacking penetration whatsoever.

“Leeds really toothless at the minute. The club needs to back Farke in the market because at the moment they are leaving him out to dry.”

Leeds’ lack of strikers is likely to cause them issues until one of them makes a return or the club move quickly in the transfer market to bring in a replacement, in particular for Bamford whose injury record is well documented.

A plan by Farke to exhaust their opponents with contact pressure worked in the end against Cardiff, but will not be enough to cut through some of the tougher defences in the Championship. If teams can cut off the service, the club don’t currently have a player who can take the game into his own hands upfront.

They will need key players to step up and make a difference in their strikers’ absence, while Rutter looks to return to full fitness, and players will need to add cutting edge to their game if they are to achieve their goals this season.

Leeds were left with doubts over Bamford’s fitness before the season began as they targeted new strikers in the transfer window, but those doubts have been confirmed and the need for a focal point has proved to be heavy so far this season.