Daniel Farke pleased with start to season as Leeds United go into international break unbeaten
Daniel Farke was pleased with the way his players dug in to collect a point from their home game with a competitive Crystal Palace team.
The Whites were way below the high level they set in their previous home game and unable to create many chances as they had to settle for a hard fought goalless draw.
However, it was enough to send them into an extended international break unbeaten and in the top five in the Premier League.
“Like always a bit mixed emotions after the game,” said manager Farke. "Of course we would have preferred to win this game, there's no doubt about this.
"We play each and every game in order to win it but the reality is it's not 38 game days of magic nights under the floodlights and champagne football and you overrun the opponent and you score goals for fun.
"Sometimes also it's a scruffy Sunday afternoon, when you have to dig in, it was one of these games.
"There were many things I liked. I liked that we extended our unbeaten run, I liked our clean sheet and I liked also that if we then can't win a game that we showed that attitude of 'okay, at least we don't lose it’ and we fight for each and every point and that we try to dig in.
"I think offensive wise, football wise it was definitely not our best game. We were a bit too loose with the ball, we didn't move the ball quick enough more or less from side to side because credit to Crystal Palace they were well structured and then difficult to open and defended very well.
“You have to be really tidy on the ball and especially in the opponents' half with crisp passes and quick in the head. I think we were a bit too slow in the head also at times and if you don't have the quality to create more chances then you should open them perhaps with a set piece.
“We had many set pieces, but we didn't have the best quality of delivery, we rarely won a first touch, we rarely won a second touch so on this topic also not spot on.
“And if you have a day like this you have to use at least one of your rare chances and we had some, Dominic probably the best in the second half and the goalkeeper was there with a good save.”
Farke added: "If you don't score then out of these rare occasions more or less then it's difficult to win this game and you have to make sure that you don't lose it - and this what we did so for that mixed emotions.
"Overall, you have to say it's also a good and valuable point and another point on the table."
After the brilliance of the Newcastle game it was a different story as Leeds were a little fortunate to take a point from their second home game in a week.
The Whites rarely got going, were second to so many second balls and outsmarted on numerous occasions.
Goalkeeper James Trafford only had one serious save to make as Palace did not make the most of their opportunities, though, and were also denied by some great last ditch defending.
That said, Leeds had the best chance of the game with Dominic Calvert-Lewin left disappointed not to put away a second half volley, with visiting keeper Walter Benitez saving.
Luck was on their side, however, in the 52nd minute when Tyrick Mitchell's effort was chalked off for the most minimal of offside decisions against Anan Khalaili in the build-up.
It was a real slow burner of a game and was summed early on when the hosts were awarded a bonus corner for their opponents taking too long on a goal kick only for it to come to nothing with Tarik Muharemovic heading over.
One-time Leeds transfer target Jorgen Strand Larsen looked to have got in behind the home defence soon after, but Muharemovic made a brilliant recovery to time his tackle perfectly in the area.
Palace continued to look dangerous on swift breaks after capitalising on Leeds errors and from one of them, possibly a result of a foul on Muharemovic, Daichi Kamada was played in only for his shot to be comfortably saved by Trafford.
At the other end Ao Tanaka sent a snap shot well over following a long throw and hit another effort wide from 25 yards out.
United's first shot on target was a weak one by Nico Elvedi five minutes from half-time as he stretched to turn and get a shot in following a scramble in the box.
The second half started with much more action as the visitors upped their game a notch. They were helped by a very soft free-kick given against Tanaka on the edge of the area and from it Yeremy Pino's well struck shot had to be equally well saved low down by Trafford.
From the resulting corner Jefferson Lerma shot over from close range and within a minute Kamada went close with another effort.
Leeds were creaking now and it was no surprise when their opponents put the ball in the back of the net though left winger-back Mitchell.
But Palace supporters' joy was shortlived with Khalaili inches offside and it was home fans now in full voice as their roared their team on.
Strand Larsen had another shot saved as Palace threatened again, but they were the ones relieved in the 55th minute when Jayden Bogle and James Justin combined well down the right and the latter's cross was met by Calvert-Lewin.
The England selected centre-forward could not direct his volley into the corner, however, and Benitez was able to save.
That was it for Leeds chances as they huffed and puffed without any cutting edge and it was their opponents who came closest to snatching a winner when Kamada headed wide and only incredible last ditch defending by Ethan Ampadu, Justin and Muharemovic prevented further shots as Palace got into the box.
Crystal Palace 0
Sunday, September 20, 2026
Premier League
Attendance: 36,462
Leeds: Trafford 7; Justin 7, Elvedi 7, Muharemovic 7; Bogle 6 (67 James 6), Ampadu 7, Tanaka 6 (67 Aaronson 5), Stach 5, Gudmundsson 7 (90+1 Bahoya); Okafor 8 (75 Nmecha 6), Calvert-Lewin 6.
Palace: Benitez 7; Richards 7, Tomiyasu 7 (45 Lerma 7), Canvot 7; Khalaili 8, Wharton 7, Timber 7, Mitchell 7; Kamada 7, Pino 7 (81 Sarr), Strand Larsen 6 (81 Nketiah).
Referee: Adam Herczeg 4