Leeds United fan favourite Gaetano Berardi exposed in Blackburn loss

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Leeds United lost their first away game of the season yesterday, as Blackburn Rovers secured a 2-1 win at Ewood Park.

It was certainly a topsy-turvy display for one Leeds player. Gaetano Berardi turned provider at one point of the game. His sliding pass put the ball on a plate for Mateusz Klich to give Leeds an equaliser.

However, the Swiss defender’s shortcomings were also exposed by Blackburn’s set-piece display.

Danny Graham and Darragh Lenihan scored the two goals to break Leeds. Both of them were towering headers from corners. On both occasions, the nearest Leeds man to the goalscorer was Berardi.

Marking zonally, he had no chance as Graham and Lenihan both had the run on him into the box.

Whereas a full-back usually covers the posts, the 5ft 10ins defender was tasked with winning an aerial battle he simply had no chance of doing. Graham and Lenihan, at 6ft 1ins apiece, were simply too imposing for him to handle.

Leeds are not blessed with physically imposing players and Blackburn took full advantage. Hopefully, other teams in the Championship do not now have a cheat code to get a win against Marcelo Bielsa’s men.