Peter Lynch

Mon 1 January 2024 17:25, UK

Leeds United got back to winning ways under Daniel Farke with an impressive 3-0 Championship victory against Birmingham City.

Patrick Bamford, Daniel James and Crysencio Summerville got the goals as the hosts picked up three points at Elland Road on Monday (1 January).

Here MOT Leeds News rates the Whites players out of 10 for their performances from the routine win against Birmingham.

Kristoffer Klaesson – 7

The goalkeeper certainly had big gloves to fill given the absences of both Illan Meslier and Karl Darlow, but he didn’t disappoint despite the pressure at Elland Road, keeping an impressive clean sheet.

Archie Gray – 6

Yet another accomplished performance from the youngster at right-back, with Gray proving his versatility once more, helping the hosts keep an important three points and clean sheet.

Joe Rodon – 8

A very impressive display from the Leeds loanee, with Rodon producing yet another display that should convince the powers that be to do all they can to snap up the centre-back permanently if possible.

Liam Cooper – 6

Again Cooper was solid at the back, producing many important moments in a bid to help out the likes of Gray and Klaesson as Birmingham did their utmost to find the back of the net.

Sam Byram – N/A

Farke perhaps took a risk bringing the defender to Elland Road in the summer, with Byram’s injury issues turning up again against the Blues as he was forced off the pitch after just 18 minutes.

Ethan Ampadu – 4

The midfield man struggled to really get a foothold on the game, and even blew a real chance to find the back of the net with a tame effort from point-blank range.

Glen Kamara – 6

It wasn’t exactly a game that was 100% controlled by the Leeds midfield, with the defence and attack shining instead, but Kamara still carried out his duties professionally in the middle of the pitch.

Daniel James – 9

The Wales international was a constant danger down the right, with James assisting Bamford’s opener with a delicate cross before finding the net himself with a confident first-time finish.

Georginio Rutter – 8

He may not have got on the scoresheet, but Rutter was once again a key creator for Leeds United, with the forward involved in most of the impressive attacking play from the hosts.

Crysencio Summerville – 7

Farke has a long list of attacking talents at his disposal, and Summerville is right up there among the very best, with the winger producing another entertaining final-third display at Elland Road.

Patrick Bamford – 8

The striker has been short on confidence this season, but he didn’t show it at all as he rose highest in the box to put the hosts into a 1-0 lead just after the half-hour mark to end his goal drought.

Substitutes

Junior Firpo (on for Byram, ’18) – 7

Along with helping out at the back, the substitute was a real threat going forward, with Firpo providing an inch-perfect cross to set up James’s goal in first-half stoppage time, before clinching another assist for Summerville’s second-half goal.

Jaidon Anthony (on for James, ’74) – N/A

Wilfried Gnonto (on for Summerville, ’74) – N/A

Joel Piroe (on for Bamford, ’75) – N/A

Ian Poveda (on for Rutter, ’85) – N/A

In other Leeds United news, the Whites are in contact to sign a £5.2million left-back in January already.