Daniel Farke admitted Leeds would win few style points for their goalless draw away to promotion rivals Burnley but he insisted it was a big result in their bid to return to the Premier League.
The meeting between first and third in the Championship got a big build-up in the context of the promotion battle but totally failed to deliver in terms of a spectacle – there was only one shot on target in the entire match and that did not come until James Trafford denied Dan James at the death.
Burnley extended their unbeaten league run to 16 games with a 20th clean sheet of the season, while Leeds made it 11 without defeat in the league as they edged two points clear of second-placed Sheffield United, with Burnley a further point back.
“I can’t say it was an unbelievable advertisement or the nicest piece of football but it’s quite often when two of the best sides play each other it looks like a chess game,” Farke said.
“So it was not the most entertaining one, but our supporters have a good knowledge of the game, they know how complicated it is to play against a top side. So the point is good to keep us on top, to keep the distance, and also there was really good defensive behaviour.
“Burnley are a really good side, they were in the Premier League last season, they are unbeaten in ages so this was a good point, a pragmatic point. But if I’m allowed to say I wouldn’t say it was the most sexy football today.”
Leeds ended the game with the initiative but still could not find a way past a Burnley defence that have conceded only nine goals in 29 games.
Scott Parker once again paid tribute to a defensive unit on course to break records this year as he insisted he was happy with a point from the game.
“I think we’ve been nothing short of remarkable defensively and I think it always smelt like a bit of a 0-0 so I’m happy with that point,” he said. “Defensively we were rock solid.
“I get that isn’t fashionable, I get people don’t want to talk about that and want to highlight the fact we’ve not scored many goals. But what this team has done defensively has been nothing short of remarkable and it has given us the platform to be in and around where we are.”
But when asked if he could be happy with a performance in which his side failed to register a single shot on target playing in front of their own fans, Parker added: “No, definitely not.
“We’re always ones to be ultra-critical and the critical element of us at this present moment in time is exactly that. Let’s not look past the fact we’ve played against a very good side but 100 per cent there’s a side to us that we need to improve and that is clear.”
January signing Jonjo Shelvey was not included in the matchday squad as he works to get up to speed on his fitness, but Parker expressed his belief that the former England midfielder, 32, can bring that cutting edge.
“I think he’s a player with vast experience, a player that risks ball, a player that can see a pass and a player that can expose a back-line and expose spaces,” Parker said. “I expect Jonjo to certainly give us that.”
