Joe Rodon falls apart as Willy Gnonto shines – Leeds United player ratings v Norwich City
Daniel Farke saw his Leeds United side fight back from an early deficit to draw 1-1 at his former club Norwich City.
Joe Rodon felled Josh Sargent to concede a penalty in the 13th minute and the American converted himself, moments before Willy Gnonto hit a post in a scrappy first half where the referee blew for a foul on virtually every challenge.
The Whites looked the more likely but a brittle midfield and an oddly panicked defence meant there was a threat whenever the home side attacked, but Largie Ramazani levelled on the hour, firing low into the far corner after being played in by Gnonto, who could have had a penalty soon after.
Here, MOT Leeds News rates the Whites players out of 10 for their performances at Carrow Road.
Illan Meslier – 7
Wasn’t heavily involved but pulled off a stunner of a save when needed. Not great for the Sargent penalty which was hit low but close to him and he dived late. Pulled off an excellent near-post stop before the break to more than make up for it.
Jayden Bogle – 6
Has been a concern defensively at time during his young Leeds United career but arguably looked the most solid here. Decent in support as Gnonto looked a threat in attack down the right, but booked early in the second half for a drag back. Could have conceded a late penalty for handball but escaped.
Joe Rodon – 3
Off colour and looked far from his usual commanding self. Dived in as he went to ground and caught Sargent recklessly to concede the penalty early, and looked under pressure whenever Norwich were on the attack. Almost scored an own-goal as he skewed a cross inside the near post to draw a top save from Meslier. Quieter second period as the home side attacked less but one of his worse games for the club.
Daniel Farke takes Leeds United to his old club again
Pascal Struijk – 6
Game of two halves to an extent but still not great. Similarly to Rodon he was all over the place in the first period in a scruffy performance. Booked early halting a Norwich break with a cynical pull-back and sold teammates short on occasion with his passes. Improved significantly after the break, albeit under less pressure.
Junior Firpo (off for Byram ’83) – 5
Has established himself as a key man in the Championship under Farke but not here. Bypassed with ease by Crnac in the build up to the early penalty and spent most of the first 45 minutes trading fouls with Norwich players. Sloppy in possession and barely any attacking threat.
Ao Tanaka – 6
Reasonable first start for the Whites in a tough game but not as impressive as he has been off the bench. Very tidy in possession but didn’t offer a great deal of security in a defensive sense and appeared to tire late on.
Ilia Gruev (off for Rothwell ’20) – 6
Added to injury concerns as he required treatment after the penalty concession and only lasted a few more minutes before being replaced by Rothwell. The last thing Farke will have wanted after losing Ethan Ampadu for 10 weeks [The Athletic, 30 September].
Ilia Gruev goes off hurt to add to Ethan Ampadu blow
Willy Gnonto (off for Gelhardt ’83) – 8 Man of the Match
Strong performance without hitting his top gear. The primary Leeds United attacking threat from early as all the best moves came through him. Hit the post after a mazy run inside the box immediately after the White went behind. Key role in the equaliser with a sharp turn in space before playing in Ramazani, and should have had a penalty when fouled by Kenny McLean minutes later but ignored, and booked. Strange to remove him when looking for a winner.
Brenden Aaronson – 7
Characteristically industrious in an attritional affair that needed plenty of that. Good pressing and some solid driving runs but lacked quality and decisiveness with the final ball. Some important defensive contributions but not much creativity from the number 10 spot.
Largie Ramazani (off for Bamford ’70) – 7
Key contribution in his one moment of real quality as he took his chance excellently. Didn’t get much of a chance to show his attacking threat in space and struggled with control at times but some nice flicks and combination work before the half. Lovely low finish on the hour to equalise with his first real opportunity. Again, odd to take him off.
Mateo Joseph (off for Piroe ’70) – 6
Frustrating but not really his fault. Looked very good on the few occasions he had possession, with driving runs towards the defence, but that wasn’t often enough as he was largely peripheral to the action. Dropped deep looking for the ball but no real goal threat.
Substitutions
Joe Rothwell (on for Gruev ’20) – 6
Decent overall. His early introduction seemed to disrupt the formation as he left big gaps in the midfield as the Canaries hit Leeds United on the break, trailing behind the play from advanced positions too often, but improved in that regard after the half. Fired a disappointing free kick into the wall from a dangerous position but went close with a long-range shot inside an hour during a better second period.
Joel Piroe (on for Joseph ’70) – 5
Would have been easy to miss he was on the pitch.
Patrick Bamford (on for Ramazani ’70) – 5
Got into a few arguments with Norwich players but didn’t add anything much otherwise.
Joe Gelhardt (on for Gnonto ’83) – 6
The forgotten man tried to get something going late on but didn’t see much of the ball and Gnonto would surely have been a greater threat if he’d stayed on.
Sam Byram (on for Firpo ’83) – 6
No real issue that he wasn’t heavily involved as a defensive introduction but Farke’s substitutions largely took the sting out the game late on.
In other Leeds United news, Farke may have been deliberately inflating Whites injury concerns before games to gain an advantage.
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