28 January 2024 , 21:59
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There is a long grind ahead for Leeds and boss Daniel Farke is ready to get pedalling.
Letting a lead slip against Plymouth in Saturday’s FA Cup clash has left his side with a logistical nightmare. With both a replay and a Championship date looming at Home Park, it means, in the space of just 15 days, they could now face the 650-mile return trip to Devon twice. You might argue that’s not all that bad.
But in the same short spell, throw in a midweek trek to Swansea and start it all with Friday’s televised battle at Bristol City, it’s easy to see why Leeds fans might fear their promotion-chasing plans could get derailed. They are back at Elland Road just once amid it all and are currently so short of players they named two goalkeepers on the bench at the weekend.
Asked if the club can afford to fly his squad down to all those fixtures in the south-west, Farke retorted: “I’m a football manager. The last thing I think about after a really busy schedule, a great week, many wins and being unbeaten here at home for so many games is whether we can afford more travel for the replay.
“We’re Leeds United. So even if we have to go on a bicycle then we go on a bicycle. And then we go on to the next one. I don’t mind. I’m looking forward to this next game and we will travel in a proper way. We will also find some food on the way in order to not be starving when we go into the game. We could have done without a replay. But we prefer a draw to losing.”
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The winners of the replay will take on Premier League opposition in the fifth round, visiting either Chelsea or Aston Villa. German Farke once more reiterated his love of the FA Cup and expressed how he wants to enjoy a run. But returning to the Premier League is their principal goal - they are just two points off the automatic promotion spots - so it will be fascinating to see how they juggle what’s to come.
Plymouth Argyle's Brendan Galloway (left) and Leeds United's Joel Piroe battle for the ball during the Emirates FA Cup fourth round match at Elland Road, Leeds. (PA)Either way, the West Yorkshire club will have to improve their finishing. They missed the input of injured trio Archie Gray, Crysencio Summerville and Dan James on Saturday but still had enough chances to ease into the next round. However, Plymouth keeper Connor Hazard enjoyed a terrific afternoon only being beaten by Jaidon Anthony’s stunning 30th minute effort.
The on-loan Bournemouth winger, making the most of only his fourth start of the season, cut in from the left, tricking his way past three defenders before arrowing home. When celebrating, he pulled off his jersey to reveal a T-shirt with the message: “Rest In Perfect Peace Mum.” Anthony’s mum Donna died recently and his goal was a wonderful way to pay his own tribute, even if it brought a booking.
Leeds, seeking a sixth straight win, would have fancied their chances from that point. But Plymouth, 15th in the Championship, have adapted well since new boss Ian Foster came in at the start of the month. They only had two shots on target. But Adam Randell crucially capitalised on one, a slick counter to level in the 73rd minute.
Leeds United's Jaidon Anthony after his wonder goal. (Getty Images)It made it four games unbeaten for the Pilgrims and left Leeds facing that nightmare fixture run. Meanwhile, Foster took most pleasure from witnessing the performance of another academy product. Homegrown Caleb Roberts, 18, made his first non-EFL Trophy start and featured as Plymouth kept alive hopes of reaching the fifth round for the first time in 17 years.
Foster said: "He's an 18 year-old boy who will remember this game, I'm sure, for the rest of his life. He put in a wonderful performance. We are really pleased with him. It's lovely to have two homegrown players [Randell and Roberts] in the centre of the pitch coming to Elland Road in the FA Cup. That's perfect for us as a football club. That's what we want - to develop our own players - and I thought he played particularly well. He was brave."
Ex-England Under 20s boss Foster blamed himself for a poor first half performance. But he added: “I'm new. I'm implementing an awful lot of ideas. But what's pleasing is the players are starting to implement them on the pitch now, which is nice. Once we played on the front foot and with more aggression, we showed what we are capable of with the ball.”