Leeds 'have been competitive' and Farke's 'done a fair job' - Sutton

Leeds 'have been competitive' and Farke's 'done a fair job' - Sutton

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton hopes "the fans are still with Daniel Farke" because Leeds' performances "have been competitive" despite suffering a third straight loss to the hands of Aston Villa.

Sutton's thoughts were echoed by Joe Hart, who said Villa only came away with the three points due to "an absolute bit of quality" from goalscorer Morgan Rogers.

"I always felt Leeds were going to be in a relegation battle this season, but I think they have been competitive," said Sutton on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club."Their recent run is the poorest run of the season but they are still there and scrapping.

"If I was a Leeds fan, then I am not totally distressed. They need to score more goals - that is evident - and in recent games they have leaked too many, but on another day they may have been able to break and get something out of Aston Villa.

"I hope the fans are still with Daniel Farke and this does not turn ugly in a short space of time with negativity towards the manager. I think he has done a fair job."

Hart added: "I agree because the performance did not concern me. I thought they were excellent first half and their energy was through the roof.

"They were putting Villa under so much pressure. Unai Emery was really concerned because he was pacing.

"Leeds had to shift tactically second half to adapt to what Emery did with his team, but once they did, it was a fair old ding-dong.

"It took a bit of absolute quality from Morgan Rogers to win it. Leeds looked like a competitive Premier League team."

So why is there pressure on Leeds manager Daniel Farke?

His name was cheered before the game and he was applauded afterwards. However, in the second half, a man carrying a Leeds scarf was apprehended in the technical areas having entered from the stands to berate the home boss.

"There is a sense that Farke is loyal to the players that the fans are not on board with," said The Observer's football correspondent Rory Smith. "I don't think it is anything more specific than a worry Farke cannot keep them up.

"I do wonder if that is influenced by the fact he has been relegated before at Norwich.

"There are certain selections that seem unpopular. Brenden Aaronson being one which I think is unfair because he is a good player and his work rate is astonishing.

"There are a few that Elland Road has never been entirely convinced by."

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