Leeds United ratings v Millwall: Guilavogui dismal as unexpected star gets 7/10
Leeds United exited the FA Cup in subdued fashion with a 2-0 defeat to Millwall in their fourth-round tie on Saturday.
The much-changed hosts at Elland Road started brightly and tested Liam Roberts with efforts from Sam Chambers and Wilfried Gnonto, but a deflected Femi Azeez strike put Millwall ahead before half-time.
United pressed for an equaliser early in the second half, but Millwall soon hit them on the break to make it 2-0; Azeez raced down the left before beating Darlow at his near post with a powerful strike.
The Peacocks were given a penalty not long after Millwall’s second, but Pascal Struijk was denied by Roberts, and although further chances came for Leeds, they went just as quickly in a below-par display which unceremoniously ended their FA Cup campaign.
Here, MOT Leeds News rates the performance of each United player out of 10.
Karl Darlow – 4
Given nothing to do in the early stages, Darlow could also do nothing about Azeez’s strike as it took a wicked deflection off Guilavogui to wrong-foot him and find the far corner. Beaten at his near post for 2-0 and arguably could have done better, but another deflection didn’t help him.
Isaac Schmidt – 6
Got up and down the right flank at will and had some good link-up play with Chambers and Gnonto, but was shrugged off the ball too easily in the lead-up to Millwall’s opener. Headed a Byram cross back into the middle for Gnonto, resulting in the penalty which Struijk missed, and then prevented Azeez from setting up a third for the visitors.
Ethan Ampadu (off for James Debayo, 83′) – 4
The only player to keep his place in the XI after United’s win over Coventry, Ampadu gifted Azeez the ball on the edge of the box and needed the crossbar to bail him out. An early goal-line clearance set the tone in the second half, and his deflection from Azeez’s shot took the ball past Darlow for 2-0. Withdrawn late on with the game all but gone, after arguably his worst performance for the club.
Pascal Struijk – 5
Forced into a few early blocks at the back as Millwall started the brighter of the two teams, and looked by far the calmest of the Whites’ defenders. Had a chance to make it 2-1 from the penalty spot, but saw his effort – a poor one by his standards – saved by Roberts.
Sam Byram (off for Junior Firpo, 69′) – 4
Looked to get forward from left-back and drilled a low ball across the face of the goal, but Joseph couldn’t get there and remained an option – albeit a not very threatening one – in the final third before being taken off.
Josuha Guilavogui experiment fails for Leeds United
Josuha Guilavogui (off for Ao Tanaka, 69′) – 2
Starting just his second-ever match in the white shirt, Guilavogui was awful to watch midfield and could only deflect past Darlow for the opener. Lunged in to win possession over Casper De Norre and was lucky to avoid red. Caught out on halfway by the visitors as they raced away to score their second, and rightfully hooked later on, with his influence better off the pitch.
Joe Rothwell – 5
Kept things ticking over and picked out the run of Schmidt with a long ball, leading to a Chambers chance, but then stranded Guilavogui in the lead-up to Millwall’s second. Teed up to shoot by Guilavogui midway through the second half, but his effort was saved, and Roberts also palmed a low free-kick away from danger.
Wilfried Gnonto (off for Joel Piroe, 80′) – 4
Linked up with Chambers on the flanks and forced the first save of the match with an acrobatic volley from the youngster’s cross. Held onto the ball for far too long before putting Schmidt in trouble with his pass, leading directly to Millwall’s opener, and after winning a penalty early in the second half, Struijk couldn’t convert. Ran himself into the ground, but was taken off with 10 left on the clock.
Sam Chambers (off for Manor Solomon, 69′) – 7
Making his full debut in the number 10 role for Leeds, Chambers started brightly and had United’s first chance of the game, sending a half-volley over the bar from a corner. After carving out a chance for Gnonto, the teenager then had one himself, forcing Roberts into a superb save.
Largie Ramazani – 6
Put in a superb piece of defending early on as Millwall broke clear, tracking back to win the ball on the edge of his box, before sending a low shot rolling into Roberts’ gloves and seeing another deflected back to the Millwall goalkeeper. Forced another strong save from Roberts early in the second half, but then saw a late cross come to nothing.
Mateo Joseph – 3
Lead the line industriously as ever but was guilty of releasing inaccurate passes and short crosses frequently, and didn’t give himself the best chance to get on the end of several good balls into the box. If this was his audition to become a long-term option at number nine, he didn’t pass by some distance.
Substitutes:
Manor Solomon (on for Sam Chambers, 69′) – 6 – Thrown straight into the action with a bursting run down the left, but couldn’t produce much once Millwall got to grips with him.
Junior Firpo (on for Sam Byram, 69′) – 6 – Got forward whenever possible and was arguably an extra winger, but his crosses either didn’t find a white shirt or resulted in a clearance.
Ao Tanaka (on for Sam Byram, 69′) – 6 – Tried to establish some control in a midfield overrun, but was brought on too late to make much of a difference.
Joel Piroe (on for Wilfried Gnonto, 80′) – N/A
James Debayo (on for Ethan Ampadu, 83′) – N/A