During an eventful match at Deepdale, Leeds United faced a challenging afternoon against Preston, as reported by Phil Hay. The game remained goalless until the 58th minute when Preston's Browne scored, putting his team ahead. Leeds United's goalkeeper, Illan Meslier, was sent off after a confrontation with Preston's Milutin Osmajic, captured by SkyFootball and leading to a three-match ban for Meslier and his replacement by Darlow. Despite being down to ten men, Leeds managed to equalize with a penalty at the 83rd minute, but ultimately conceded another goal, ending the match with a 2-1 defeat. Leeds United coach Farke, as quoted by TheAthleticFC, expressed mixed emotions about the team's performance, highlighting the need for improvement in their offensive game and acknowledging the challenges faced by Gray against Preston's Millar. In other news, SteveMadeley78 noted that Mario Lemina and Joao Gomes were key players in the absence of Neves and Moutinho, contributing significantly to the dynamics of the game.
Farke on Gray: "It was tough because Millar is a good player. I think (Gray) handled many situations well but if you're involved in a crucial situation, Archie knows he should have closed him down quicker. Sometimes you learn most out of difficult days." #lufc
Farke on Meslier: "The situation is obvious. He gets a knock from the first place. The second player who is nothing to do with it gives him a knock to provoke something. It's just what he (Osmajic) wanted."
Farke speaking after today's defeat: "Overall, I would say at half-time I had mixed emotions. I was happy we kept a highly motivated home side relatively quiet. I was not happy with our offensive game at all. We weren't willing to invest more." #lufc
Too flat and lethargic before the red card, the red card was needless and from then on it was inevitably dicey. Played best when it went to three at the back but not good enough over 90. #lufc
Clearance deflects off Joseph and behind for a goal kick. 2-1 on 90+8. #lufc
Rutter brought down wide left. Gnonto to have another go. 90+5 #lufc
Millar has had an excellent game for Preston. Wins them a corner with another driving run. 90+3. #lufc
Browne clatters James, out on the touchline. Free-kick Leeds, outside Preston's box. Suddenly doesn't feel like 11 v 10. 88th min. #lufc
Sends Woodman the wrong way. Cool, cool finish and so badly needed. 1-1 on 83 mins. #lufc
CHANCE: Rutter takes a pass on the edge of the box, springs onto his left foot and drills a deflected effort just wide. 1-0 on 75 mins. #lufc
Rutter stands up to a challenge and wins Leeds a corner. 71st min. #lufc
Three at the back now. #lufc
Leeds United are down to 10 men. Illan Meslier is shown his marching orders after inexplicably pushing Milutin Osmajic in the face. 🎥 @SkyFootball https://t.co/z5nHPyRFay
Darlow's first job, to pick the ball out of the net. Simple stuff - cross into the box, Browne gets up and plants a sharp heard into the corner of the net. 1-0 on 58 mins. #lufc
Without seeing a replay, that was quite an obvious reaction from Meslier which was asking for trouble. Will be a three-match ban. Darlow in nets. Looks like Leeds are going 4-2-3, with Rutter through the middle and James/Summerville either side of him.
Meslier sent off. Out of nowhere. Preston swing a cross in. Meslier takes it but then reacts to Whiteman, aiming an elbow in his direction. Straight red. Darlow's league debut coming up...#lufc
RED CARD: Meslier. #lufc
Rutter dallies in possession, Preston hustle him out of it and look for Osmajic running through. Struijk there to stick a toe in and prevent a shot. 0-0 on 52 mins. #lufc
A bit of a non-event that half. Will need to go through the gears, Leeds, and also sort out the right side of their line-up. Preston had most joy there. #lufc
Deflected Ampadu shot, loses its sting, comfortable take for Woodman. 0-0 on 45+3. #lufc
Turning into a very hard shift for Gray. Loses the ball to Browne before recovering it in the box, but then brings down Millar out wide. Free-kick coming. 37th min. #lufc
CHANCE: Rutter with a great run down the left, speed and skill to make room for himself, ball comes to James whose half volley is blocked. 0-0 on 33 mins. #lufc
Yellow card: McCann, for a lunge at Rutter. Didn't catch him fully but deserved a booking. 31st min. #lufc
Space opens up for Millar with Gray sucked into the centre of the pitch. Tries to lash one into the top corner but pings it high into the away end. 0-0 on 30 mins. #lufc
Spence getting some traction down the left. Struijk this time, playing him into space, and a good cut-back to Piroe but Piroe can't bury it. 0-0 on 27 mins. #lufc
CHANCE: Summerville curls the free-kick in, decent one to attack, but Rodon glances it wide. 0-0 on 23 mins. #lufc
Yellow card: Summerville turns on the afterburners, Potts slides at him and brings him down from behind. 22nd min. #lufc
Summerville down after a challenge near halfway. Ampadu hurt in that passage of play too but seems to have shaken it off. Break in play. 0-0 on 18 mins. #lufc
We're underway at Deepdale #lufc
Preston to kick off #lufc
📋 TEAM NEWS: Your #pnefc side taking on @LUFC this afternoon. 👊 https://t.co/FeUX46Chvd
Mario Lemina was everywhere in the first half today. Joao Gomes was everywhere in the second. A piece from another enjoyable Molineux afternoon on life after Neves and Moutinho. #WWFC @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/sntNe7OmSK