Shaun Wright-Phillips has slammed Luke Ayling for the role he played in the only goal Leeds United conceded during their defeat to Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
The former Premier League winger added that Ayling, 31, ‘fell asleep’ as Brennan Johnson fired a brilliant first-time finish into the bottom corner following a set-piece situation.
That goal came early in the first half, but up until that point, Jesse Marsch’s side were all over Forest, only to be on the back end of that sucker punch.
In typical Leeds fashion, the away side continued to knock the door down but failed to open it, just like they did at Villa Park a number of weeks ago.
In the end, that defensive lapse, added to their lack of cutting-edge in the final third, played a part in the team suffering yet another defeat.
Wright-Phillips feels the lack of concentration from Leeds played a part in the goal they conceded, as he told Premier League Productions (05/02/23 at 2:55 pm).
“When you have that much control of the game, especially in the attacking areas, then you need your defence to concentrate at all times,” said Wright-Phillips.
“Set-pieces, or whatever knocks around and they didn’t do that, which is why they went behind. Luke Ayling, from the set-piece. He fell asleep. Lost contact with his man and he didn’t see him again until the ball was kicked. After that, it’s an uphill battle for him.”
PRESSURE ON MARSCH?
The noises are getting louder and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Marsch is out of the door quicker than people think.
Post-World Cup, in terms of performances, the team have actually played well. But the results just haven’t been there.
Some would sympathise with the American, but others would then rightly point towards the team’s performances and results pre-World Cup, and that’s the reason why they are hovering above the drop zone.
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