Leeds United 0-0 Crystal Palace: Whites Extend Unbeaten Start With Goalless Draw

Leeds United extended their unbeaten start to the Premier League season to five matches after being held to a 0-0 draw by Crystal Palace at Elland Road on Sunday.

The final Premier League fixture before September’s extended international break finished all square, with both sides having opportunities to take all three points but neither able to find the decisive touch in front of goal.

Daniel Farke named an unchanged starting XI following Monday night’s impressive victory over Newcastle United, with England international James Trafford continuing in goal and Dominic Calvert-Lewin leading the line.

Leeds started brightly and immediately looked to put Palace under pressure.

After an Anton Stach free-kick was blocked by the visiting defence, an Ethan Ampadu long throw caused problems inside the Eagles’ penalty area, with the ball eventually falling to James Justin, whose powerful effort was blocked from close range.

The hosts continued to threaten from set-pieces and long throws, with Palace goalkeeper Walter Benítez later penalised for holding onto the ball for too long and Leeds awarded a corner.

Tarik Muharemović rose highest to meet the resulting delivery but could only direct his header narrowly wide of the upright.

The Bosnian defender was equally important at the other end moments later, producing a perfectly timed diving challenge to dispossess Jørgen Strand Larsen as the Palace forward looked set to race through on goal.

Leeds’ long throws remained a constant threat, with one flicked into the path of Ao Tanaka.

The Japan international struck a fierce half-volley but could not keep his effort down.

Approaching the half-hour mark, Gabriel Gudmundsson’s looping ball found Jayden Bogle at the back post.

The wing-back struck first time, only for his effort to be blocked by a Palace defender, with appeals for handball subsequently waved away by referee Adam Herczeg.

Palace threatened themselves as the half progressed, with Nico Elvedi throwing himself in the way of a Quinten Timber effort from close range.

Leeds then broke forward through Noah Okafor, who continued to provide an outlet down the left.

The forward’s low cross was aimed towards the arriving Bogle, but the Palace defence managed to hack the ball clear.

Neither side could find the breakthrough before the interval, despite an entertaining opening 45 minutes in which both teams had their moments.

Half-time: Leeds United 0-0 Crystal Palace

Palace emerged from the break the stronger side and almost immediately tested Trafford.

Yéremy Pino’s free-kick was heading towards the corner before Trafford reacted sharply to get down low to his right and tip the effort beyond the post.

Jefferson Lerma then fired over from the resulting corner, while Daichi Kamada also went close with an effort from distance.

The visitors appeared to have taken the lead when Tyrick Mitchell found the bottom corner, but Leeds were given a reprieve after VAR intervened and an offside was identified during the build-up.

Having weathered Palace’s strongest spell of the afternoon, Leeds came within inches of taking the lead themselves.

Bogle produced an excellent piece of skill to evade his marker before releasing James Justin down the right.

The defender delivered into the penalty area for Calvert-Lewin, whose attempt was met by an excellent save from Benítez.

The Palace goalkeeper was again called upon moments later when another opportunity fell Leeds’ way, with Calvert-Lewin narrowly failing to connect with a flick-on inside the area.

Farke then turned to his bench for the first time, introducing Daniel James and Brenden Aaronson in place of Bogle and Tanaka.

The game remained finely balanced as both teams pushed numbers forward in search of a winner.

Leeds captain Ampadu was forced into another important intervention when he produced a superb last-ditch challenge to dispossess Kamada inside the penalty area just as the Palace midfielder shaped to shoot from around 10 yards.

With time running out, Farke made further changes in an attempt to find a breakthrough.

Lukas Nmecha was introduced before Jean-Mattéo Bahoya was handed his Leeds debut in stoppage time.

Both substitutes won late free-kicks which resulted in yellow cards for Palace, but neither was able to create the opportunity required to settle the contest.

The final whistle eventually confirmed a point apiece at Elland Road.

Leeds therefore head into the international break unbeaten after five Premier League matches, having collected another clean sheet but being unable to find the goal that would have turned Sunday’s draw into another home victory.

Full-time: Leeds United 0-0 Crystal Palace