Willy Gnonto gamble fails, 8/10 stunning – Leeds player ratings v Luton
Leeds United were held to a 1-1 draw by relegation strugglers Luton on Saturday, in another blow to their promotion hopes.
Daniel Farke’s side needed a victory after a run of five games with just one win to keep their automatic promotion ambitions alive.
They got off to the worst possible start when Isaiah Jones opened the scoring after 15 minutes, but Dan James was on hand to equalise before the half-hour mark.
However, they could not find the winner and their destiny is now out of their own hands for the first time in a significant while.
Here, MOT Leeds News rates the Whites’ players out of 10.
Karl Darlow – 6
Darlow replaced the error-prone Illan Meslier but there was nothing that he could do for the opener and produced a great save to spare Rodon’s blushes early in the second half.
Jayden Bogle – 5 (off for Byram, 87)
A disappointing display from Bogle as he failed to create much going forward and was unusually suspect from a defensive perspective.
Joe Rodon – 6
Solid with the ball at his feet, and was brilliant defensively as he dealt with pretty much everything that was thrown his way.
Pascal Struijk -5 (off for Wober, 86)
Struijk was typically calm and composed in the build-up play and was an absolute monster defensively as he made a total of 17 clearances before leaving the clash with an injury concern.
Junior Firpo – 5
Firpo left Jones in acres of space for the opening goal and committed several clumsy fouls that could have hurt the Whites.
Ao Tanaka – 5
Tanaka is usually so reliable for Leeds, but he was outmuscled in the build-up to the Luton goal and was not as dangerous going forward on this occasion.
Ethan Ampadu – 5
Tried to get his side forward but could not create a moment of genius, struggled defensively as he committed several fouls and lost out in duels far too much.
Gnonto gamble does not pay off for Farke
Wilfried Gnonto – 3 (off for Bamford, 63)
Gnonto replaced Brenden Aaronson in the starting line-up but just like the American recently, his influence on the contest was minimal with the Hatters offering him no room to operate within and was hooked just after the hour as a result.
| Stats | Gnonto |
| Chances created | 0 |
| Shots | 0 |
| Touches in opposition box | 1 |
Manor Solomon – 4 (off for Schmidt, 87)
Struggled to get involved and when he finally did get a chance from a wonderful cross from James, he skied his effort from close range. A poor showing for the Israel international.
James shines for Leeds once again
Dan James – 8
James produced a stunning strike to level proceedings and was the Whites’ best player in the contest by far as he was the only one who looked threatening for most of the game.
Joel Piroe – 4 (off for Aaronson, 79)
Had a miserable first half as he failed to record a single shot or create a chance, and his luck did not improve in the second as he was replaced by Aaronson after failing to impress once again.
Substitutes:
Patrick Bamford – 5 (on for Gnonto, 63)
Brenden Aaronson – 5 (on for Piroe, 79)
Max Wober – N/A (on for Struijk, 86)
Isaac Schmidt – N/A (on for Solomon, 87)
Sam Byram – N/A (on for Bogle, 87)