Match Stats: Leeds United v Stoke City – Opening Day Defeat For Rowett

Gary Rowett took his Stoke City squad to Leeds United and Elland Road for our 2018/19 Championship kick-off earlier today.

A mixed pre-season campaign for manager Gary Rowett gave both positives and negatives as we build up to the coming year but it’s still early days under his tenure, new players will gel more in the coming weeks and one match won’t decide anything.

That’ll be the message coming from the gaffer after we suffered a 3-1 defeat to Marcelo Bielsa’s side.

The hosts took the lead 15 minutes into the first half and they doubled their advantage in stoppage time before the halftime break. Although we did come out of the blocks and get on the scoresheet in the second period (a Benik Afobe penalty), it’s difficult to say that Leeds didn’t deserve their third just ahead of the hour mark.

It won’t have been the start Rowett wanted as he made his competitive bow for us in the dugout and we knew there was plenty of work left to do as the team gels, but it may temper some of the expectations that surround us this season and that might bring benefits of its own down the line.

On to the next one now as we search for the first three points of the year.

Leeds United				Stoke City
Klich (15), Hernandez (45+1), Cooper (57)				Afobe (pen 52)
Peacock-Farrell				Butland
Ayling				Bauer
Berardi				Shawcross
Cooper				Martins Indi
Douglas				Pieters
Klich			76	Allen
Saiz			88	Ndiaye			63
Phillips				Etebo			63
Hernandez				Ince
Alioski			89	Afobe			76
Roofe				McClean
Substitutes
Bamford				Williams
Roberts				Diouf
Dallas			76	Fletcher			63
Jansson				Crouch			76
Harrison			89	Bojan			63
Blackman				Edwards
Baker			88	Federici

Game Statistics
11	Goal attempts	9
5	On Target	5
3	Corners	3
14	Fouls	8
0	Yellow Cards	0
0	Red Cards	0
52	%	48