Former Leeds United defender Stephen Warnock has questioned whether Leeds United have the firepower necessary to keep them at the top of the Championship table.
The Whites currently sit third after one win and one draw from their opening two league games.
Following an impressive opening weekend victory against Bristol City, Marcelo Bielsa’s side gave up a one-goal lead against Nottingham Forest as their first home game of the season finished 1-1.
Pablo Hernandez scored Leeds’ only goal, in a game in which Patrick Bamford squandered multiple opportunities.
Speaking on EFL on Quest on Saturday 10th of August (quotes via Leeds Live), Warnock criticised the 25-year-old’s performance and questioned whether new signing Eddie Nketiah had what it takes to keep Leeds at the top of the table.
He said: “A lot of the chances fell to Patrick Bamford today. He’s not in form, he’s not got that confidence.
"Eddie Nketiah, is he going to be the man who can put pressure on him, or take his position and start scoring the goals to fire Leeds up the table?”
Warnock also criticised the Whites' defensive organisation in relation to the Forest goal.
He said: “I think they struggled with set-pieces.
“When you think of the size of the players that they had in the box last season, Pontus Jansson. Are they missing that type of figure?
“They don’t clear the ball, they give (Michael) Dawson an opportunity to get a free header. You see it here, nobody's near him, they’ve got to get touch tight.
“There’s an opportunity here, (Lewis) Grabban pulls (Liam) Cooper down, it doesn’t get given. Get on with it, there’s a lot to deal with, the ball's got to come in the box, you’ve got to clear it.”
[ad_pod ]
The Verdict
After an unconvincing debut season at Elland Road, which saw Bamford score 10 goals and draw some criticism from Leeds fans, the pressure was always going to be high this season, especially with the exit of Kemar Roofe.
Bamford found the net in the opening game but there seems likely to be little respite for him unless he keeps scoring consistently.
It will be interesting to see how Bielsa utilises the two strikers now at his disposal and whether Nketiah will displace Bamford straight away or will himself have to wait for an opportunity.
For the time being, the jury is still out on both Leeds strikers.