Daniel Feliciano

Sun 9 April 2023 15:52, UK

Leeds were embarrassed at Elland Road by Crystal Palace as they lost 5-1 on Sunday (9 April), with Luke Ayling turning in a horror performance.

The Whites took the lead midway through the first half thanks to Patrick Bamford’s 50th goal for the club after an electric start saw Luis Sinisterra and Brenden Aaronson go close.

But despite dominating much of the half they went into half-time level as Marc Guehi latched onto a Jeff Schlupp header to equalise on the stroke of half-time.

Leeds were poor in the second half and were punished as they fell behind through a Jordan Ayew header, before Ebere Eze poked a strike under Meslier just minutes later.

Odsonne Edouard added a fourth with a classic counter-attacking goal not long after, and it got worse when Ayew got his second of the game when the defence fell asleep and allowed him to score a 5th.

Here is how we rated the performance of each Leeds player at MOT Leeds News…

Illan Meslier – 3/10

Meslier didn’t have many saves to make and the ones he did make were good, but it’s hard not to think he should have done better for the goals. He was slow to react for the Palace equaliser and the third goal, while also looking shaky when coming for crosses.

Luke Ayling – 1/10

We love Ayling, but the recent performances from the veteran are showing why he needs to be dropped from the team and something new needs to be tried. He was slow, lost his duels regularly and to top it off was out of position badly for the second and fourth goals. Shocker.

Pascal Struijk – 3/10

Struijk claims he’s a centre-back preferably, but he doesn’t play like he wants a future in the position. Another poor showing in the middle where his lack of awareness showed once more.

Robin Koch – 3/10

Koch is our best central defender, but he has really struggled here. His passing wasn’t good enough and while he did well aerially, when the ball was on the ground he looked panicked. Shocking performance.

Junior Firpo – 4/10

Firpo started the game well and was a threat down the wing but as the team started to struggle he went into his shell. He should have done more to stop Olise for the third goal too, and eventually went off on the hour mark with an injury.

Marc Roca – 4/10

Roca showed good quality in midfield and constantly tried to break the play up, but it felt as though he was forcing the play too much. His bite in the middle was necessary but almost got us in even more trouble, and the quality of Tyler Adams being absent is showing more and more.

Weston McKennie – 3/10

A big name player, but his performances have been anything but since he joined. He won more tackles than anyone else on the pitch (6) and passed the ball well, albeit safely when he had it, but he never dragged Leeds out of trouble and was nowhere to be seen for the goals.

Jack Harrison – 4/10

Harrison has been in good form and would have been riding a wave of momentum after his new contract, but he was largely poor.

Brenden Aaronson – 5/10

The USMNT ace was probably unlucky to be substituted as he was the most effective attacker in the first half. He dropped deep and linked play well but the poor second half meant changes were needed and he was sacrificed.

Luis Sinisterra – 3/10

Sinisterra has got great quality and he has shown it in flashes, but today was poor. The Colombian should have scored early on and completed just 18 passes before being hooked on the hour mark by Gracia. He has to do more.

Patrick Bamford – 4/10

A goal for Bamford but not much else. Struggled to hold the ball up and was invisible in a shocking second half. Simply not good enough.

Substitutes

Wilfried Gnonto – N/A

He tried to offer some intensity to the game but he could do nothing about this horror show.

Rodrigo Moreno – N/A

Didn’t do anything wrong and didn’t really get the opportunity to do anything right either.

Rasmus Kristensen – N/A

Came on at left-back when Firpo went off and was asleep for the fifth goal. Not a great showing.

Georginio Rutter – N/A

In other Leeds news, Jesse Marsch could come back to haunt us after a fresh development emerged this week.