Joel Piroe and Brenden Aaronson terrible – Leeds player ratings v Blackburn
Leeds United failed to return to the top of the Championship table after suffering a 1-0 defeat to Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.
The Whites started brightly and two Wilfried Gnonto shots drew early saves from Aynsley Pears, but Ao Tanaka’s clumsy foul in the area resulted in Todd Cantwell putting Rovers 1-0 up from the penalty spot.
Daniel Farke’s side improved in the second period and saw efforts from Gnonto, Pascal Struijk and Junior Firpo kept out, while Largie Ramazani had a potential equaliser chalked off due to an offside call against Patrick Bamford, but they could not find a response.
Here, MOT Leeds News rates the players out of 10 for their performances at Ewood Park.
Illan Meslier – 5
Got lucky as a header from Tyrhys Dolan rattled off the crossbar, before Owen Beck’s rebound was lashed wide from right in front, and then guessed the right way from Cantwell’s penalty, but couldn’t quite keep it out of the bottom-left corner. Had very little to do in the second half as United piled on the pressure, but was then lucky once more as an offside Dolan tapped the ball past him to put it into an empty net before play was pulled back.
Jayden Bogle – 5
Struggled to deal with Dolan early on and conceded a succession of fouls on the trot, and another in his own defensive third after losing possession to the Blackburn number 10 resulted in a yellow card for the right-back. Released in behind by Aaronson, Bogle later drew a save from Pears but was flagged for offside, and in the second half, he made a crucial block to divert Cantwell’s shot over the bar from point-blank range.
Joe Rodon – 5
Forced into several early headers and clearances away from his own box but wasn’t as effective with the ball at his feet, misplacing several passes into midfield and just missing Firpo’s head with a cross-field pass. Improved in the second half, going toe-to-toe with Yuki Ohashi on the break and preventing a shot, but was unable to prove much of a threat at set-pieces.
Pascal Struijk – 6
Pulled up with an injury worry early on, but was able to shake it off and soon continued. Forced into plenty of defensive actions as Blackburn piled on the pressure in the first half, and was United’s usual target from set-pieces, seeing a superb header kept out at point-blank range by Pears after Rothwell’s free-kick. Another late corner saw Struijk and Bamford clash heads, contributing to over 10 minutes of injury time.
Junior Firpo – 6
Returning to the side after his three-game ban, Firpo slotted in seamlessly, getting forward at will but also popping up everywhere in defence. Could have had a penalty in the second half after being hacked down in the area by Callum Brittain, but the referee waved play on, and a far-post cross towards Bogle was palmed away by Pears. Lucky not to cost the Peacocks a goal after his clearance was charged down and then lashed wide by Cantwell from right in front.
Daniel Farke will rue Joel Piroe call for Leeds United v Blackburn
Ao Tanaka – 5
Tidy as ever in possession but caught cold and on the wrong side as he barged a free-running Dolan over in the box to concede the penalty which saw United go 1-0 down. Struggled to deal with the final-third runs of Dolan and Japan compatriot Ohashi, but did help to spark one of United’s best chances of the first half, which Aaronson volleyed wide, and had a late second-half effort blocked. A rare off-day – by his standards – for the fan-favourite midfielder at Ewood Park.
Joe Rothwell (off for Mateo Joseph, 82′) – 6
Given licence to get forward against his former side, Rothwell often slotted in on the left as Gnonto cut inside. Popped up on the edge of the area to shoot, but Pears was easily able to gather, and then made back-to-back blocks to keep out efforts from Callum Brittain and Sondre Tronstad. In the second half, Rothwell put an inch-perfect ball on the head of Struijk, only for Pears to parry, but was taken off late as the Whites chased an equalising goal.
Daniel James – 5
Had a chance to run through into the box as Gnonto had a go from the edge of the area, but James was in the shot’s path and caught offside as a result. Frequently ran in behind looking to link up with Bogle to his right and Piroe in the middle, but wasn’t able to create many clear-cut chances for the latter.
Brenden Aaronson (off for Manor Solomon, 69′) – 4
Often dropped deep to help out Leeds’ double-pivot, but wasn’t able to do much going forward as Blackburn stifled their midfield. Played an aerial one-two with James with the visitors on the break, but could only volley wide at the far post, and on the other side of half-time, carved out shooting space for himself, but then passed to no-one rather than pulling the trigger and was subbed soon afterwards.
Wilfried Gnonto (off for Largie Ramazani, 69′) – 7
Back playing on the left flank, Gnonto cut inside almost at will and drove forward on the break to see a shot blocked from the edge of the box, and then pinched possession to draw a good save from Pears. Called the Rovers keeper into action once again with a curling strike through the crowd, and an opportunistic header with the Whites 1-0 down. Saw yet another effort blocked early in the second half after a free-kick, and his presence as United’s most dangerous attacking threat made his withdrawal bizarre..
Joel Piroe (off for Patrick Bamford, 69′) – 4
Always looked to find space early on and almost cut out some adventurous passing out from the back by Blackburn, but wasn’t anywhere near enough of a presence in the box when United got into the final third. A performance which supports the argument that he’s a much better option to finish off games than he is to start them.
Substitutes
Patrick Bamford (on for Joel Piroe, 69′) – 5 – First off the bench instead of Mateo Joseph in a rare move by Farke, Bamford was the man caught offside in the lead-up to Ramazani’s disallowed goal. He then rose for a late header from James’ cross and saw it deflected wide, but clashed heads with Struijk from the following corner, resulting in a lengthy period of treatment. Back to his feet, Bamford had a late effort on the turn, but could only drag it wide from distance.
Manor Solomon (on for Brenden Aaronson, 69′) – 4 – Looked to take up Gnonto’s mantle and cut inside from the left in attack, but was unable to get any effective shots away.
Largie Ramazani (on for Wilfried Gnonto, 69′) – 5 – One of his first actions was to clatter into Blackburn skipper Lewis Travis, earning a yellow card almost straight after coming on. Fired in off the crossbar thinking he’d equalised, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
Mateo Joseph (on for Joe Rothwell, 82′) – N/A
In other Leeds news, the Whites can steal a march on Europe’s elite by sealing the signature of a highly-rated 18-year-old star.
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