The five frantic minutes that could shape Leeds’ season

Whether Leeds‘ goalless draw at Crystal Palace was a hard-fought point after being harshly reduced to 10 men, or a huge chance blown for a crucial win in the relegation battle following a missed penalty, will depend largely on your own perspective.

Unsurprisingly, Leeds manager Daniel Farke was in the former camp when reflecting on five of the most chaotic minutes so far this Premier League season.

The truth of how this match is defined is not likely to become clear until the end of the campaign.

Leeds earned a point at Selhurst Park on Sunday despite having wing-back Gabriel Gudmundsson sent off in first-half stoppage time for a second yellow card.

It was a debatable decision, with Farke claiming Gudmundsson had not even fouled Ismaila Sarr for the infringement that drew his second booking from referee Thomas Bramall.

Bramall himself seemed uncertain, with a long gap between the yellow and red cards that seemed to indicate he had forgotten about booking Gudmundsson for another innocuous foul on Brennan Johnson earlier in the half.

That capped a frantic five minutes for Leeds, which had promised plenty when Palace captain Will Hughes handled in the box.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin stepped up but dragged his penalty wide.

But Leeds dug in after Farke made his only two substitutes of the match at the break.

His astute changes involved bringing on Ilia Gruev for Lukas Nmecha to pack the midfield, and Jayden Bogle at right wing-back with James Justin switched to the left.

Farke also, crucially, ensured cool heads prevailed after a dramatic end to the first period.

“Players are driven by emotions, we have missed a penalty then lost a player,” Farke told his post-match news conference.

“But they were highly motivated in the second half, so we concentrated on the topics and not to be driven by emotions. It was important to explain what to do.

“In the end it was a fantastic day for us, proof that this club is united and can overcome all adversity.”

Leeds’ low block and 5-3-1 formation nullified a sluggish Palace team, and ensured the Whites are the only team on record to have a player sent off in the first half and not concede a single shot on target in the same Premier League match.

“I have to give a lot of compliments to my players, I can trust my boys with my life,” Farke said.

“We are not flawless but showed how we can adapt to strange circumstances and strange decisions – we did not give any chances away.

“Edging closer” is the right phrase. Leeds have not won in five league matches but have drawn their past three.

With fellow strugglers West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham all earning draws this weekend, 15th-placed Leeds have maintained the three-point gap between themselves and the relegation zone.

To misquote the likely apocryphal words of England cricketer George Hirst against Australia in the 1902 Ashes, Leeds will “get it in singles”.

Farke’s side also have the kindest run-in on paper, with just one game against a top-six team – Manchester United on 13 April – and home games against the bottom two, Burnley and Wolves.

But there is the nagging feeling their three-point gap to the drop zone should have been five.

Since the start of the 2022-23 season, only Liverpool and Fulham have failed to convert more penalties than Leeds in the top flight – despite the Yorkshire side being in the Championship in two of those campaigns.

It denied Leeds their first away win since September, when they beat rock-bottom Wolves. The only two teams with worse records away from home are the bottom two.

And it was more frustration for Calvert-Lewin, who overcame a late fitness test on a knee issue to play here and led the line with impressive physicality.

But after scoring twice against Palace in December – taking his personal tally to seven league goals versus the Eagles – he has scored only three times in 12 league games.

Farke, a former forward himself, was philosophical.

“I was happy with his overall performance, I was happy for him to take [the penalty]. Also, what he did in the second half, he was a crucial part today.

“Of course, you want to hit the target and he is disappointed. But this is football, even Harry Kane misses penalties.