Ao Tanaka becomes indispensable, 4/10 can pack his bags – Leeds player ratings vs Derby
Leeds United progressed to the next round of the FA Cup with a 3-1 win away to Derby on Sunday.
After Leeds’s 4-3 defeat away to Newcastle, an FA Cup encounter with Derby was their chance to get back to winning ways and return to the form that brought them their recent success.
It was a slow start for the Whites, but they were handed a chance to take the lead from the spot when Lukas Nmecha was brought down.
Joel Piroe took on the responsibility, but saw his penalty saved, just two minutes before Ben Brereton Diaz gave Derby County the lead into the half-time break.
Willy Gnonto got Leeds level early in the second half, with Ao Tanaka putting Leeds ahead just three minutes later, reacting first to a rebounded effort from Piroe.
James Justin added a third in added time, with the Whites comfortably advancing to the next round.
Ao Tanaka proves Daniel Farke wrong
Ao Tanaka has started just seven games for Leeds in the Premier League, which, when taking into account the level of quality he has, is strange.
Every time he has been afforded a chance to impress, he has done exactly that, and it was no different against Derby despite a lacklustre performance in general from Leeds.
It was his perfectly weighted through pass that led to the openalty, and that was just one of many instances of his progressive way of playing.
Tanaka also got himself on the score sheet and generally showcased more than enough to demonstrate to Daniel Farke that he needs to be playing.
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Jack Harrison woeful again
No one expected Jack Harrison to be a Leeds player this season, and even fewer will expect it to remain that way after another dreadful performance.
His crossing was woeful, and he had to be bailed out by Ethan Ampadu on several occasions when he was all over the place positionally.
Being generous, Harrison offered absolutely nothing for Leeds against a bang average Championship side.
His time at Elland Road has to come to an end in January, not just for Leeds’ sake, but also for his own, with things only going to get worse.
Leeds player ratings
Karl Darlow – 6
Sebastian Bornauw – 5 (for Justin 45′)
Ethan Ampadu – 8
Jaka Bijol – 7
Jack Harrison – 4
Ao Tanaka – 9
Ilia Gruev – 7 (for Longstaff 73′)
Willy Gnonto – 7 (for Byram 86′)
Joel Piroe – 6 (for Aaronson 89′)
Noah Okafor – 5
Lukas Nmecha – 5
Subs
James Justin – 7 (for Bornauw 45′)
Sean Longstaff – 7 (for Gruev 73′)
Sam Byram – N/A (for Gnonto 86′)
Brenden Aaronson – N/A (for Piroe 89′)