Craig Scott

Mon 23 March 2020 21:00, UK

Leeds United didn’t even win when they played Brentford at Griffin Park on February 11 but that 1-1 draw in West London could be seen as one of the most important results in their season.

Leeds should have won that game. Kiko Casilla’s comical error in the first half was the only reason why Brentford managed to get on the scoresheet before Liam Cooper scored what should have been the winner.

It was an impressive display by the Whites if you disregard Casilla’s mishap and that is largely down to Kalvin Phillips, whose midfield masterclass at Griffin Park sparked the beginning of the end of the side’s rotten run of form.

Before Leeds visited Brentford, they had won just two of 10 league fixtures and lost two on the bounce while Phillips was suspended.

Phillips was deservedly handed a three-match ban for an ugly challenge in the defeat to QPR in mid-January and although the Whites rallied to beat Millwall in his absence, it was clear in defeats to Nottingham Forest and Wigan that the midfield ace was missed.

That three-match ban reinvigorated Phillips – the best midfielder in the Championship – and that helped spark Leeds’ run of form before the coronavirus-enforced suspension of the league earlier this month.

But how did Phillips manage to perform so well against Brentford? What did he do to stand out so much and play so well that he almost single-handedly revived the Whites’ stuttering promotion charge?

According to stats by WyScout, Phillips completed 86 per cent of his passes at Griffin Park and, more impressively, 90 per cent of the long-range passes he attempted.

On average this season, Phillips has completed 52 per cent of long-range passes he’s tried to make in the Championship, so to complete nine out of 10 at Brentford was a huge improvement.

The 24-year-old also completed 83 per cent of his passes into the final third – his season average is 64 per cent – and received the ball 52 times in the match, as shown below.

Phillips was at the centre of everything, spraying passes out around the entire pitch and wreaking havoc on a Brentford defence that failed to keep up with his vision and technique.

One of Phillips’ most impressive passes came in the first half.

Phillips dropped deep from the midfield to pick up the ball from centre-back Cooper.

Brentford failed to apply any pressure on the 24-year-old, but he did not need much time to look up and spot a pass to Helder Costa.

Phillips was just outside his own penalty area when he launched a long-range aerial ball towards the Portuguese winger, who barely had to move in order to bring the ball down in one touch.

It was a magnificent bit of play from Phillips. Between the time the ball left Casilla’s penalty area to being played into the Brentford penalty area, only 10 seconds had passed.

It was counter-attacking style football done in a controlled, play-it-out-from-the-back manner that bamboozled the Bees’ rearguard.

Unfortunately, that bit of play didn’t result in a goal but Phillips’ midfield masterclass was a big reason as to why Leeds United picked up a point that day.

Even Brentford fans were stunned as to how well the England hopeful managed to play [Rich Williams].

Leeds have won every game without conceding a goal since Phillips made Griffin Park his back garden.

Even though the midfielder missed the matches against Middlesbrough and Huddersfield, his form inspired a major up-turn in the club’s form.

In other Leeds United news, Pontus Jansson has sent a message to this Leeds player.