Sunderland v Leeds: Farke says Leeds should have beaten Man Utd as Danso misses out

Sunderland v Leeds is the next Premier League test for Daniel Farke’s side, who head to the Stadium of Light on Sunday 25 October with Daniel Farke convinced his side should have beaten Manchester United, and facing a Sunderland team that has lost four league games in a row and will be without a suspended centre-back. The game kicks off at 16:30 GMT on Sky Sports, after the clocks go back that morning.

Farke looks back at the United draw

Leeds drew 1-1 at home to United on Sunday, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin cancelling out Bryan Mbeumo’s first-half opener (our match report). The point leaves Leeds seventh with ten points. The Sunderland Echo carried Farke’s post-match comments. Farke said afterwards that he and his players were “even a bit disappointed” not to win, adding: “I think we were the better side today, the dominant side.”

He was critical of the finishing as much as the opposition, a point that matters for Sunderland v Leeds. “The problem was there were too many strikes over the crossbar, and too many crosses were then even a bit too long, and this situation killed then a bit our momentum,” he said. He also said Leeds were not switched on in one moment to track Mbeumo’s run, and praised the defensive work in the second half: “We have not allowed anything in the second half.”

Sunderland in trouble before Sunderland v Leeds

Sunderland are 19th with four points from seven matches after a 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth, their fourth successive league loss, and failed to register a shot on target. Bournemouth scored after five minutes, and Kevin Danso was sent off shortly afterwards for denial of a goalscoring opportunity. The Yorkshire Evening Post says that means a one-match ban and that he misses Sunderland v Leeds. Dan Ballard is also out with a hamstring injury, with a timeline of roughly six weeks reported.

The same report lists Thomas Meunier, Brian Brobbey and Wilson Isidor as doubts, with Regis Le Bris saying the issues are not serious. Sunderland also play Lech Poznan this week before Sunderland v Leeds.

What Sunderland v Leeds means

Leeds go in as the in-form side, but Sunderland’s need for a response makes it a tricky trip, and Farke’s one criticism after the draw is worth a read. Leeds’ own team news has not been covered in the sources seen, so any injury or fitness picture will come with Farke’s pre-match press conference.