'Hairy moments' - Beren Cross says Leeds ace 'nervous' in Marsch's first game; failed 15 passes

Leeds United duo Luke Ayling and Illan Meslier looked a little jittery at times in Jesse Marsch’s first game in charge against Leicester City. 

That’s according to Leeds Live correspondent Beren Cross.

Marsch took the reins for the first time since replacing the sacked Marcelo Bielsa following last weekend’s 4-0 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur.

Ayling started as a right-sided centre-back in the American’s 4-2-3-1 formation, partnering Pascal Struijk in the heart of defence with Diego Llorente injured.

It was the Englishman’s 13th Premier League start in succession and his 17th overall this season.

They were protecting Meslier’s goal, with the Frenchman retaining his no. 1 spot following the managerial charge.

10 minutes into the match, Cross took to Twitter to note that there had been ‘some nervous moments around their box for Ayling and Meslier already’.

In a further update on Leeds Live’s match blog, he said they’d emerged unscathed from some ‘hairy moments’ in the early stages, with Meslier even forced to Cruyff turn past an onrushing attacker at one point.

It was a mixed afternoon for Ayling at The King Power Stadium. On the positive side, he won seven ground duels and four of his six aerial battles (via SofaScore).

But he was somewhat loose with his passing, misplacing 15 of the 69 he attempted (22%) and missing the mark with nine of his 19 long balls.

It’s worth noting, in Ayling’s defence, that he is predominantly a right-back, and that he may not have been playing as a CB if Llorente was fit and available.

In other news, Cross was shocked by what he heard from Marsch’s presser.

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