Team in Focus: Leeds United - strengths, weaknesses and prospects

Sky Bet Championship

Preston 1 Leeds 1
Barkhuizen 74 Nketiah 87

Preston North End v Leeds United
match report

Substitute Eddie Nketiah grabbed a late equaliser for Leeds, who were the dominant side for the majority of the 90 minutes. They should have won and would have felt totally robbed had Tom Barkhusien's breakaway goal decided the contest.

The second period was more even but Leeds should have been out of sight in the first half with Patrick Bamford passing up four opportunities in the opening 25 minutes.

Ezgjan Alioski also shot wide and Ben White could have done better from a set-piece, while even early in the second half Jack Harrison and Bamford had opportunities to put United ahead.

However, it was Preston who broke the deadlock as Barkhuisen finished a swift counter-attack instigated by Sean Maguire and the goalscorer nearly doubled North End's advantage before Nketiah's looping header set up a barnstorming finish.

Leeds United tactics

Leeds have a clear identity under Marcelo Bielsa. They play fast, their full-backs, particularly Alioski on the left, are adventurous and their passing game is difficult to nullify.

Bielsa replaced centre-back Gaetano Berardi with forward Tyler Roberts as he chased the game, leaving Luke Ayling alongside White - virtually everyone else in the team was in attack-mode.

Leeds United strengths

They average 60 per cent possession in this season's Sky Bet Championship and their passing patterns are difficult to disrupt.

Kalvin Phillips is hugely influential at the base of midfield in a 4-1-4-1 formation and loanee White clearly has a Premier League future when he returns to Brighton.

There's good width from Helder Costa and Jack Harrison, while Bamford is a clever player who links the whole attack together in similar fashion to Roberto Firmino at Liverpool.

Leeds United weaknesses

Leeds don't finish enough of their chances and they are way behind their expected goals scored for the season, which is why Bamford divides opinion across the United fan base.

Bielsa's side look a better team when Bamford starts because of the way he connects with the others, but he has scored only four goals this season and none in his last eight games.

Nketiah has five goals and yet the Arsenal loanee has not started a league match.

To be sure of promotion Bielsa will need Bamford to find his confidence, Nketiah to become more of an all-round team player or to come up with a solution which sees them paired together without losing control in midfield.

Leeds United goalscorer bets

With the chances Bamford gets he should be winning the Championship Golden Boot race. He has enough shots, averaging 3.4 per game, but confidence is an ongoing issue.

At bigger prices Alioski may be one to consider - only Bamford and Nketiah have scored more than him in the league this term and it was easy to see why on this evidence.

View from Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa

"The match was for us completely until they scored. We dominated and created a lot of danger."

Leeds United prospects

Leeds are the best team in the Championship and it's not even that close but bookmakers are fully aware of their promotion chances.

The Yorkshire side go off short prices every week - they were 23-20 at Deepdale - and a better way of profiting could be to back Leeds to win in matches featuring few goals.

Five of their seven league wins this season have been 1-0 or 2-0 and they possibly lack the cutting edge to thrash opponents.

How did Preston North End play?

Preston were tenacious and competed reasonably well. Barkhuizen was a threat off the left and Alex Neil's side should be in the playoff mix.

Preston v Leeds team line-ups

Preston 4-2-3-1: Rudd; Fisher, Bauer, Davies, Rafferty; Pearson, Browne; Potts, Johnson, Barkhuizen (Green 89); Nugent (Maguire 72).

Leeds 4-1-4-1: Casilla; Ayling, White, Berardi (Roberts 77), Alioski; Phillips; Costa, Klich, Dallas, Harrison; Bamford (Nketiah 77).

Next three league fixtures

Preston: Blackburn (h), Charlton (a), Huddersfield (h)

Leeds:Sheff Wed (a), QPR (h), Blackburn (h)

Follow us on Twitter

Like us on Facebook RacingPostSport