Leeds United vs Middlesbrough: Georginio Rutter goes from hero to zero at Riverside Stadium
Georginio Rutter may have hauled the Leeds United season back on track and then nearly thrown it away again in the first half at Middlesbrough.
The star forward has been below his brilliant best since returning from minor surgery during the international break, but after he won the penalty which Crysencio Summerville converted to equalise at the Riverside in the 14th minute suggested he might be back at close to his top level.
Former White defender Jon Newsome believed as much as he reacted live on BBC Radio Leeds on 22 April after the Frenchman was brought down in the box by Anfernee Dijksteel.
He said, via the BBC Sport liveblog (8.15pm): “He’s got no right to do what he does. That is Georgino Rutter at his absolute best. A penalty all day long.”
Daniel Farke’s side had gone behind after just seven minutes after a series of errors were capitalised on by Isaiah Jones to pour pressure on the visitors, coming into the game having lost two and drawn one of their past three games.
Leeds United star has dramatic first half vs Middlesbrough
Willy Gnonto was caught in possession on the right flank, and a Boro ball forward was deflected past Ethan Ampadu off Ilia Gruev, before a combination of Joe Rodon and Illan Meslier challenged for it, only for Jones to beat Junior Firpo to the loose ball and slot in.
In the circumstances it was vital for Leeds United to get back into the game as quickly as possible to prevent the significance of the poor run of form and the stakes at the top of the table got on top of them and let the game run away.
Rutter picked up the ball on the left wing and drove into the box before a panicked Dijksteel brought him down from behind and gave the Whites a crucial route back in.
Yet, after Patrick Bamford put the Whites 2-1 up Rutter repeatedly gave away possession and was eventually punished as Emmanuel Latte Lathe seized on the loose ball to equalise.
According to SofaScore stats the record-signing had 23 touches in the first 45 minutes and managed to lose possession 10 times, completing just four of 10 passes (40%).
He showed the quality in winning the penalty that got him into the Championship Team of the Season, but then regressed in a scruffy performance and must improve again.
Leeds United surely must win this game to get automatic promotion, with three points leaving them second but having played more than both rivals Leicester and Ipswich.
Willy Gnonto’s strike put the Whites back into a crucial lead with some fortune not to be ruled offside, and Farke desperately needs more of Rutters’ “absolute best” in the second half and less of his sloppy worst in a vital game.
In other Leeds United news, Mike Dean hammered a controversial Whites man live on Sky Sports for the “awful” thing he did.
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