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Brentford logo
Championship | Gameweek 32
Feb 11, 2020 at 7.45pm UK
 
Leeds logo

1-1

Benrahma (25')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Cooper (38')

Leeds cling on to automatic promotion spot despite Kiko Casilla blunder

Leeds cling on to automatic promotion spot despite Kiko Casilla blunder
© Reuters
The Spanish goalkeeper allowed Said Benrahma to open the scoring for the Bees.

Leeds clung on to their place in the top two despite a goalkeeping gaffe from Kiko Casilla as they battled to a 1-1 draw at Brentford.

United, top of the Sky Bet Championship and 11 points clear of third place just two months ago, have seen that lead evaporate over the last 10 matches.

In fact Brentford would have gone above Marcelo Bielsa's wobbling Whites with a victory over them, and looked well on the way after Casilla gifted Said Benrahma his ninth goal of the season.

But Liam Cooper equalised to secure a valuable point for a side who had lost four of their previous five matches.

However, they will still find themselves outside the automatic promotion spots in 24 hours if Fulham pick up a win at Millwall.

Leeds arrived in west London with a terrible history against the Bees, having not won at Griffin Park since 1950, while their record in the capital this season reads: played four, lost four.

Also fresh in the memory was their defeat at Brentford, in their third last match of last season, which derailed that campaign's promotion push.

Nevertheless, Brentford could barely get out of their own half as Leeds dominated the opening stages, with David Raya making saves to keep out Jack Harrison's drive and a Luke Ayling header.

But Brentford began to make inroads onto the Leeds half, first when Christian Norgaard fired narrowly wide from 18 yards out.

Moments later the hosts were handed the lead after Casilla slipped and let Cooper's backpass roll under his foot, allowing Benrahma to tap home at the far post.

It was an awful error from the former Real Madrid keeper, whose place in the side is already under scrutiny following some recent shaky performances.

Raya was back in action to tip Pablo Hernandez's fierce volley over the crossbar, but he was partly culpable when Cooper equalised for Leeds seven minutes before the interval.

Raya came for, and missed, a corner and as the Bees failed to clear their lines the ball dropped to the Whites skipper who leathered it into the back of the net.

After the break Raya gathered Helder Costa's low drive and Patrick Bamford fired over from the edge of the box.

Bielsa threw on January recruit Jean-Kevin Augustin for the final 15 minutes but the closest they came to a winner was a Hernandez effort which was deflected over the crossbar.

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds26158348192953
2Burnley27141123192253
3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd26166436171952
4Sunderland27149439221751
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn2612683123842
6Middlesbrough26118743321141
7West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom26913432211140
8Watford26115103637-138
9Bristol City2691073330337
10Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds2610793840-237
11Norwich CityNorwich269984337636
12Swansea CitySwansea2697103030034
13Queens Park RangersQPR2671182934-532
14Millwall257992423130
15Preston North EndPreston2661282834-630
16Coventry CityCoventry2678113437-329
17Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2678112941-1229
18Derby CountyDerby2676133135-427
19Stoke CityStoke2669112432-827
20Luton TownLuton2674152744-1725
21Cardiff CityCardiff2659122641-1524
22Hull City2658132536-1123
23Portsmouth2558123044-1423
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2649132554-2921


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