[ad_pod ]
This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets…
For Marcelo Bielsa and Leeds, the problems are beginning to mount.
It may not define their season as Liam Cooper alluded to after the game but a first away defeat of the campaign and the same old issues lingering around suggests the pressure is slightly on.
Leeds were again dominant – something that seems to be a key theme of their current term. Against Derby and Swansea they had over 60% of the possession but against Charlton it was over 70%.
19 shots were taken and none of them went in, not even Helder Costa could produce when it mattered.
Leeds fans have been calling for his inclusion in recent weeks and after their timid display against the Rams, it had never been so evident that they needed some extra quality after hitting the post and missing a penalty.
After all, this is a player who was involved in 29 goals for Wolves in the Championship over two seasons.
An injury to Pablo Hernandez meant he was finally given a chance to start in the league but after all of the hype surrounding him, he failed to live up to expectation.
Costa has been a revelation at times for the Whites in 2019/20, establishing a relationship with Eddie Nketiah that’s seen them combine for two goals – that’s half of the total contributions the Portuguese has been involved in.
Yet, versus Charlton, that creativity and goal threat wasn’t there.
He lost the ball as many as 17 times as he failed to deliver the goods in what was an unacceptable display for what has been expected of him.
The 25-year-old didn’t have a single shot on target while he failed to produce an accurate cross despite playing all 90 minutes, via SofaScore.
Perhaps this was evidence of why he hadn’t yet started in the league and after this performance, he’ll have to work harder to ensure he stays in the team.
In the League Cup this season he’s averaged three successful dribbles but on this occasion, he only managed one as the Wolves loanee was anonymous for large spells at the Valley.
Leeds have had issues when it comes to creativity, particularly from Jack Harrison who has managed just three accurate crosses from 37 this season.
Costa, however, doesn’t look like solving that for the time being.