Leeds United

Leeds United are the league's most stubborn mid-table side: five draws in nine, and only two defeats. The trouble is that stubborn has stopped turning into wins.

That was the story again on Saturday. Bournemouth won 2-0 at the Vitality Stadium, the second goal arriving in stoppage time. The first came after goalkeeper James Trafford botched a pass, and Evanilson scored from the mistake, according to The Guardian's report. Leeds had been the better side up to that point, the paper says. It was their second league defeat of the season, against two wins and five draws, and it leaves them on 11 points, ninth going into Saturday night's late matches.

Form

The last five league results: a goalless draw with Crystal Palace, a 2-1 defeat at Arsenal, a 1-1 with Manchester United at Elland Road, last Sunday's 0-0 at Sunderland in a storm, and Saturday's loss. That is no league win since a 4-1 over Newcastle on 14 September. Nine goals in nine games says a side that competes and loses its edge in the last third. Leeds were knocked out of the EFL Cup 6-3 at Chelsea in September.

Manager and key players

Daniel Farke is the manager, in his second Premier League season at the club. BBC Sport's analysis of Saturday says pressure could mount on him if wins do not come soon. Four names stand out:

• Dominic Calvert-Lewin, on four league goals and five in all competitions, and the subject of the biggest piece of news around the club this week.
• James Trafford, the £45m goalkeeper from Manchester City, who had stood firm at Sunderland a week before Saturday's error.
• Ethan Ampadu, the captain and a regular in midfield, with eight league starts at the last count.
• Anton Stach, a midfielder with eight league appearances and a goal at the last count.

Owners and money

BBC Sport reports that Calvert-Lewin, 29, is set to sign a new contract. He arrived on a free from Everton in 2025 on a three-year deal to 2028, and has 18 league goals in 42 league games for Leeds. For the club, a longer deal protects the value of their best striker, and it costs far less than replacing him would.

The club is owned by 49ers Enterprises, with Paraag Marathe as chairman. Spending £45m on a goalkeeper in August says they think the side is close. Five league games without a win is where that gets tested.

The season so far

A win at Forest on opening day, a draw with Brentford, a point at Brighton, then the Newcastle hammering. Since then, steady rather than spectacular, and lately not even that.

Next up

Tottenham at Elland Road on Saturday 7 November. Spurs came into this weekend on back-to-back league wins, so this one is about whether Leeds can turn draws into three points.