Leeds United had to settle for a point on Sunday afternoon after being held to a 0-0 draw by Crystal Palace at Elland Road.
Daniel Farke’s side went into the game with plenty of confidence after their impressive 4-1 victory over Newcastle United in their previous Premier League match. The Whites also had the chance to move up to third place before the international break, but they could not find the goal needed to take all three points.
It was a different type of game from the Newcastle win, with Palace making things difficult for Leeds and defending in a much more organised way. Leeds had opportunities, but their final ball and finishing were not quite good enough when it mattered.
The result means Farke’s team remain unbeaten in the Premier League, which is still a positive start to the campaign. However, there was also a feeling around Elland Road that Leeds had missed a chance to take another big step forward.
The match also produced some interesting individual performances, with Jayden Bogle once again showing why he has become such an important player for Farke.
At the other end of the scale, Anton Stach endured a difficult afternoon and was unable to reach the level he has shown during his time at Leeds.
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Anton Stach has a difficult afternoon for Leeds
Anton Stach was one of the players who struggled to make his usual impact against Crystal Palace.
The German midfielder has become an important part of Farke’s team, but this was one of those matches where very little seemed to go right for him.
Stach was given a rating of 5/10 after finding it difficult to win his individual battles in midfield. He won only 38 per cent of his ground duels, while he also committed three fouls during the game.
His work with the ball was another problem. Stach attempted 30 passes but misplaced seven of them, while he failed to complete a dribble.
Those numbers do not tell the full story, but they show why this was not one of his better performances.
The midfielder was often unable to protect possession when Palace put pressure on him, and Leeds needed more control in the middle of the pitch during a match where chances were difficult to create.
That does not mean Stach should suddenly be taken out of the team. He has already shown enough quality to remain a major part of Farke’s plans.
However, the 27-year-old will know he can play much better than this.
The international break could come at a useful time for Stach, giving him an opportunity to return to Thorp Arch refreshed and ready to get back to his best.
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Jayden Bogle continues to impress
While Stach had a difficult afternoon, Jayden Bogle once again gave Leeds supporters plenty to be happy about.
The right-back was one of the best players on the pitch and received an 8/10 rating.
Bogle was energetic from the opening minutes and provided Leeds with an important attacking outlet down the right side. He was willing to push forward whenever the opportunity came and also worked hard when Palace tried to attack.
His best contribution came in the second half when he delivered an excellent ball into the box for Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Calvert-Lewin was unable to finish the chance, with Walter Benitez making the save, but the opportunity showed the quality Bogle can provide from wide areas.
The defender also played an important role in the incident surrounding Crystal Palace’s disallowed goal. Tyrick Mitchell had put the ball beyond James Trafford, but VAR ruled the goal out because Anan Khalaili was offside earlier in the move. Bogle had also made an important block during the attack.
Bogle was eventually replaced by Dan James in the 67th minute, having completed all of his aerial duels successfully.
His form is becoming one of the positive stories of Leeds’ season so far, and if he can maintain this level, his performances will naturally bring more attention from outside Elland Road.
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Leeds United player ratings vs Crystal Palace
| Player | Rating | Match details / contribution |
| James Trafford | 7/10 | Kept a clean sheet and dealt with the Palace threat when required. |
| Jayden Bogle | 8/10 | Leeds’ standout performer; dangerous going forward, worked hard defensively, created Calvert-Lewin’s best chance and won 100% of his aerial duels. Replaced by Dan James in the 67th minute. |
| James Justin | 7/10 | Produced a steady display and helped Leeds remain solid at the back. |
| Nico Elvedi | 6/10 | Had a fairly quiet afternoon but helped Leeds keep Palace from finding a breakthrough. |
| Tarik Muharemovic | 7/10 | Put in a solid defensive performance and helped deal with Palace’s attacking threat. |
| Gabriel Gudmundsson | 6/10 | Worked hard on his side but could not make a major attacking difference. Replaced by Jean-Matteo Bahoya in the 92nd minute. |
| Anton Stach | 5/10 | Struggled to influence the midfield, won only 38% of ground duels, committed three fouls, completed no dribbles and misplaced seven of 30 passes. |
| Ethan Ampadu | 7/10 | Offered balance in midfield and helped Leeds stay organised during a difficult game. |
| Ao Tanaka | 6/10 | Had some decent moments but struggled to unlock a well-organised Palace defence. Replaced by Brenden Aaronson in the 67th minute. |
| Dominic Calvert-Lewin | 6/10 | Came closest to winning the match for Leeds but could not beat Benitez with his best opportunity. |
| Noah Okafor | 6/10 | Worked hard but could not produce enough in the final third. Replaced by Lukas Nmecha. |
| Brenden Aaronson | 5/10 | Came on for Tanaka in the 67th minute but could not change the game. |
| Dan James | 5/10 | Replaced Bogle in the 67th minute and had limited time to make a major impact. |
| Lukas Nmecha | 5/10 | Came on for Okafor and was unable to find the decisive moment. |
| Jean-Matteo Bahoya | N/A | Introduced in the 92nd minute, leaving him with too little time to influence the match. |
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Leeds remain unbeaten but will want more after the break
The biggest positive for Leeds is that they have still not lost a Premier League match this season.
After five games, Farke’s team have built a solid platform and remain competitive in the table. The 0-0 draw also brought another clean sheet, something the manager can take encouragement from.
Farke himself described his feelings as mixed after the match, pointing towards the unbeaten run and clean sheet as positives while admitting Leeds would obviously have preferred to win.
The main frustration will be the lack of a cutting edge.
Leeds had enough moments to win the game, particularly through Bogle’s excellent delivery and Calvert-Lewin’s opportunity, but Palace managed to survive without conceding.
The international break now gives Farke and his coaching staff some valuable time to work with the squad.
Stach will be hoping to return in better form, while Bogle will be looking to continue his excellent start to the season.
For Leeds, the job now is to turn these draws into wins when the Premier League returns.
The unbeaten record remains intact, but Farke will know his team must become more ruthless if they want to continue making progress in the Premier League.
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