Dan James MOTM, teammate in 4/10 stinker – Leeds player ratings v Middlesbrough
Leeds United beat Middlesbrough to go back to top of the Championship at Elland Road on Tuesday.
Wilfried Gnonto opened the scoring and Dan James put the Whites back in front after Maximilian Wober had put the ball in his own net.
Brenden Aaronson secured the win with a goal in stoppage time as Daniel Farke’s side took a huge stride in their promotion push on 10 December.
Here are our player ratings for the game:
Illan Meslier – 7
Made a very good save to deny McGree that led to the corner that the equaliser came from. Also flew out to smother Ben Doak and stop the Liverpool loanee from putting Boro in the lead when the contest was level.
Sam Byram – 7 [off for Ampadu, 85]
His distribution from the right-flank impressed and he made a crunching tackle in the build-up to the second goal. Solid performance from the right-back.
Joe Rodon – 6
A brick wall at the back. However, he was very lucky to avoid giving away a penalty for a clumsy challenge on Riley McGree in the first-half.
Pascal Struijk – 6
A typically solid Struijk performance. Calm and composed at the back and excellent when playing the ball out.
Maximilian Wober – 5
The Austria international was dangerous going forward but left Doak in acres of spaces on several occasions as a result. Scored an own goal as he tried to head Daniel Barlaser’s corner away.
Joe Rothwell – 7 [off for Guilavogui, 94]
An industrious performance in midfield that will go under the radar. The duo of him and Tanaka keep the Whites ticking and it will be hard for Ampadu and Gruev to force them out.
Ao Tanaka – 8
The Japan international hardly put a foot wrong in the Whites’ engine room. He was pickpocketed for the Doak chance that Meslier was forced to deal with but overall had a solid game and won the ball in the build-up to the third goal.
Dan James on fire for Leeds United
Dan James – 9 [off for Schmidt, 94]
The Welshman was electric, a constant threat and it was his cross that was deflected into the path of Gnonto for the opener before he scored the second. Was instrumental in the third goal. He even helped out defensively and stole the ball from Doak to stop a promising counter-attack.
Brenden Aaronson -6
Skied a good chance on the edge of half-time that would have put the Whites two-nil ahead but was full of energy and worked his socks off. Sealed the victory in second-half stoppage time with a tap-in but left a lot to be desired with his overall performance.
Wilfried Gnonto -7 [off for Soloman, 69]
Scored the opening goal and tested the goalkeeper again with a drive from range in first-half stoppage time, failed to make the same impact in the second-half and was taken off.
Joseph fails to take Leeds United chance
Mateo Joseph – 4 [off for Piroe, 69]
Was given a start ahead of Joel Piroe but failed to take his opportunity and should drop to the bench for the next game.
Substitutes:
Joel Piroe – 6 [on for Joseph, 69]
Assisted James for the second goal just five minutes after coming on, a solid cameo performance
Manor Soloman – 5 [on for Gnonto, 69]
Pretty anonymous since his introduction.
Ethan Ampadu – 5 [on for Byram, 85]
The skipper returned after 10 weeks out in a makeshift right-back role to help Leeds seal the victory.
Isaac Schmidt- N/A [on for James, 94]
Joshua Guilavogui- N/A [on for Rothwell, 94]
In other Leeds news, Danny Mills was shocked by a bizarre incident in Leeds win over Middlesbrough.
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