Leeds United 0-0 Crystal Palace: result and report

Report

Leeds United were expected to win at home, but they could not find a way past Crystal Palace. The goalless draw was a fair result, though Palace carried more of the attacking threat. Leeds owed their point as much to James Trafford as to anything they did going forward.

With no goals, the story is in the chances. Leeds United had slightly more of the ball, 51% to 49%, but that did not turn into pressure on the Palace goal. They managed only six shots and two on target, while Crystal Palace had nine shots and four on target.

Palace also created the clearer openings. They had two big chances to Leeds United's one, and they missed both, while Leeds missed their only one. Palace also made 45 dangerous attacks to Leeds United's 29, and seven key passes to five.

Crystal Palace: the sharper threat

The overall chance quality was closer than those counts suggest, though. Leeds United finished with the higher xG, 1.42 to 1.15. That points to a game with few clear openings at either end rather than one in which Palace were pinning Leeds back.

The pressure pattern supports that reading. Leeds United had the slightly higher average pressure across the match. Crystal Palace still produced the most intense spell of the afternoon, with a peak well above anything Leeds managed.

James Trafford's afternoon

That is why Trafford was named player of the match despite a scoreless game. With Palace putting twice as many shots on target, the Leeds United goalkeeper was the busier of the two.