Daniel Feliciano

Wed 29 November 2023 21:41, UK

Leeds United earned a hard-fought 3-1 win over Swansea City at Elland Road to keep the pressure on Ipswich and Leicester at the top of the Championship.

Jamie Paterson gave the visitors the lead inside the opening two minutes with a fine lob over Illan Meslier after Daniel James had an even earlier goal disallowed, before Joel Piroe equalised after just four minutes.

Georginio Rutter then gave the home side the lead on the stroke of half-time with a lovely placed finish with his left foot after a great pass from Ethan Ampadu.

James all but sealed the points on the hour mark with his fourth goal in the last four home games following a perfect pass from Rutter, as he roofed the ball into the net beyond the Swans keeper.

Here is how MOT Leeds News rated the performance of each Leeds player in the game.

Illan Meslier – 6/10

Could do absolutely nothing about the Swansea goal in the opening minutes, but beyond that had very little to do and his distribution of the ball was excellent. The best in the league.

Archie Gray – 5/10

For such a young player who is out of position, Gray doesn’t half continue to impress. Fantastic ability on the ball and a great relationship with the midfielders, he keeps doing everything Daniel Farke asks of him and more. Djed Spence has a battle on his hands to get this right-back spot.

Joe Rodon – 7/10

The more you watch Rodon play, the more you realise he is a Premier League defender playing in the Championship. Excellent in possession, a 100% tackle success rate and a leader on the pitch too. What a signing.

Pascal Struijk – 4/10

The skipper started poorly and was at fault for the Swansea goal, but he eventually recovered his concentration levels and grew into the game. His partnership with Rodon is exceptional and he provides great balance on the left, but those lapses in concentration can be the difference at the highest level.

Sam Byram – 6/10

Steady Eddie, or Sam in this instance, Byram once again showed why Farke trusts him to be the first-choice left-back despite being a natural right-back. His relationship with Summerville is excellent and his overlapping runs are a constant threat to the opposition. Another strong performance.

Glen Kamara – 7/10

A monstrous box-to-box midfielder, Kamara is the perfect foil for Ampadu in the middle of the park. Energy for days and an ability to dribble into space to break lines, the Fin is also great in possession and defensively strong. A brilliant bargain of a signing.

Ethan Ampadu – 6/10

Controlled the game from about the 25 minute mark and showed his eye for a pass with the assist for Rutter’s goal. The signing of the summer by a distance at Elland Road, and in the conversation for player of the season so far. Wasn’t his strongest performance, but once again he barely put a foot wrong.

Daniel James – 5/10

James had a shocking first-half where he managed to complete just six passes and was really wasteful with his dribbling, but he improved in the second half and got himself on the scoresheet with a booming finish before being subbed with around 20 minutes to go.

Joel Piroe – 6/10

Piroe had an electric start with his goal, but while he was a threat in the first half he struggled to make an impact in the second and found himself barely getting involved. Goals are why he was signed, but he needs to do more to effect the game when he’s not getting on the end of chances.

Crysencio Summerville – 8/10

The best player in the Championship, bar none. Summerville got another assist to add to his tally and was a nuisance all night. He completed more dribbles than anyone else on the pitch, completed 91% of his passes (WhoScored) and had more shots than anyone else too. Where would we be without him?

Georginio Rutter – 9/10

It had to take something special to trump Cree for man of the match tonight, and Georginio did exactly that. A relatively quiet first half burst into life with his goal on the stroke of half-time, and then he got the assist with a perfectly weighted pass to James for the third. Mazy dribbling, great movement and a a final-third threat, he was the man of the match.

SUBSTITUTES

Patrick Bamford – 5/10

Wilfried Gnonto – 5/10

Jaidon Anthony – N/A

Junior Firpo – N/A

Liam Cooper – N/A

In other Leeds news, 3/10 stinker for star in first half ratings vs Swansea City.