Leeds, Brentford: A Point Gained, Or Two Points Lost In The Relegation Scrap?

Sunday at Elland Road felt less like a Premier League match and more like a staring contest. Leeds United and Brentford scrapped their way to a goalless draw, a result that probably left both fan bases feeling a bit hollow. For Leeds, it was a missed opportunity, plain and simple. They could’ve put six points between themselves and the relegation zone. Instead, they’re still too close for comfort, sitting 15th with 18 points.

Here’s the thing: neither side really deserved to win this one. The game finished with Leeds only managing two shots on target from 16 attempts. Brentford, for their part, were even less threatening, putting just one of their six shots on Illan Meslier's goal. Patrick Bamford, making his first league start since October 29 against Fulham, looked rusty. He couldn't convert a decent chance in the 26th minute, spraying a shot wide from inside the box. That’s not the Bamford Leeds needs right now.

Remember when these two met at the Community Stadium in September and Brentford hammered Leeds 5-2? That game had everything: goals, drama, and some genuinely awful defending. Sunday’s return fixture was the polar opposite. It was a grind, a chess match where neither manager, Jesse Marsch nor Thomas Frank, seemed willing to truly open things up. Marsch's side had 58% possession, but it was possession without much penetration. Crysencio Summerville, who’s been a bright spot for Leeds with four goals this season, couldn’t find space to work his magic.

And you have to give credit to the defenses, particularly Ethan Pinnock for Brentford. The big center-back was immense, clearing everything that came near him. He won five aerial duels and made several crucial interceptions. For Leeds, Pascal Struijk and Robin Koch were solid enough, keeping Ivan Toney quiet. Toney, who has 13 goals this season, barely got a sniff. That’s a win for the Leeds backline, even if the attacking players couldn’t capitalize.

But let’s be real, a 0-0 draw at home against a direct rival in a relegation battle is not good enough for Leeds. This team needs to find a way to score. They’ve only managed two goals in their last four league matches. That’s a troubling statistic for a side trying to pull away from the bottom three. They brought in Georginio Rutter for a club-record £35 million earlier this month, but he was an unused substitute here. What’s the point of spending that kind of money if you’re not going to unleash him in games like this? You don’t buy a Ferrari and leave it in the garage.

Look, Marsch is under pressure. The Elland Road faithful are patient, but they demand attacking football and goals. While the clean sheet is a small positive, it doesn't mask the deeper issue: a lack of cutting edge. They travel to Nottingham Forest next, another team scrapping for survival. That game on February 5 is going to be massive. If Leeds don't find a way to score there, the murmurs around Marsch will get a lot louder. I reckon if they don't get at least a point at Forest, the club will be seriously considering a change at the top.