Former Leeds United man Paul Robinson has highlighted Helder Costa as the one player who looked like causing any sort of threat to Nottingham Forest as the Whites failed to score for the second game running.

The game was set up for Leeds to dominate from the outset as Forest looked to dig deep and hit Leeds on the break, as they did at Elland Road earlier in the season.

Similar themes continued to plague Marcelo Bielsa’s men at the City Ground as they failed to break down a staunch Forest defence that packed the 18-yard box, with the wide players once again struggling to pick out Patrick Bamford in the box.

It was an underwhelming performance on the whole from the Whites with few positive individual performances. However, speaking to MOT Leeds News, Paul Robinson singled out winger Helder Costa as the only player who appeared to be making things happen for the away side on Saturday evening, claiming that neither Costa nor fellow winger Jack Harrison should be dropped for the Brentford clash. He stated: “He shouldn’t drop them for the Brentford game – he hasn’t got anybody else.

“Costa and Harrison have been good going forward, and Costa’s the only one who carries a threat with the ball, dribbling.

“The majority of Leeds’ attacks are through phases of play, structured attacking – Costa’s the only one who makes a difference by dribbling in the attack, by running the ball at the defence.

“I think they’ve both played very well all season, and I don’t think there’s a call to change either of them. When you look at what Bielsa has got, there’s nobody to change them with anyway.”

Even in Leeds’ poor spells, there have been promising signs from the two wide players as Bielsa’s side continue to place their faith in shifting the ball into wide areas, despite the lack of success in crossing the ball.

How much do you know about Leeds' new signings?

The verdict

Costa has yet to find the form that saw him light up the Championship with Wolves as well as see Leeds pull out all the stops to find him.

That being said, he was a rare positive in an otherwise disappointing performance at the City Ground, even if he did struggle to break down the Forest backline.

Jack Harrison’s situation is very similar on the left-wing, as he gets into great positions and causes a lot of problems, but just can’t find the right delivery when he gets on the inside.

Bielsa has more pressing issues in his starting 11 than the form of these two, as players in both goalmouths continue to underperform.