Leeds Player Ratings - Hull 0 - 1 Leeds

Leeds United claimed a 1-0 at the KCOM Stadium against Hull City.

In truth, it wasn’t much of a game (although it was better than the 0-0 last season which was horrendous). Leeds should have been at least 2 up at HT with both Barry Douglas and Ezgjan Alioski missing big chances. Then at the start of the second half Tyler Roberts produced the matches one moment of real quality to find the corner from 25 yards and give Leeds an important win.

Time now to look at each player and how they performed. As always you can tell me how wrong I am @mightywhitespod or @ThruItAllLUFC on twitter.

STARTING LINE-UP

Bailey Peacock-Farrell - Came out for a free-kick and got in a mix-up with Liam Cooper after 30mins. First major save from a flicked effort from Dicko on 85mins where he showed good anticipation to be in the right place. One cross which he should have come for and didn’t but ended his game with a good claim from another cross. Will have hurt his passing stats with the last few minutes where he was knocking the ball long but before that his distribution was good, have to note that Hull didn’t press him much. Hull didn’t do enough for him to have a shot at a great score. 6/10

Luke Ayling - Gave the ball away sloppily a couple of times in the first 15mins. Headed over when the ball was bouncing 8 yards out at a corner, should have hit the target. Had an effort not far over after a one-two with Klich early in the second half found him in the right side of the penalty area. Solid second half in both directions without being standout for me. 6.5/10

Pontus Jansson - Showed excellent awareness first half to make a couple of covering runs and interceptions when Hull had the chance to counter. Excellent knock down to create a chance for Phillips from a Douglas free-kick. Good in possession. No mistakes made defensively. Good performance. 7.5/10

Liam Cooper - Did well to block a Tommy Elphick effort from an early corner. Then, a copy-paste job from Jansson “Good in possession. No mistakes made defensively. Good performance.” Had less defensive work to do than Jansson. Both he and Jansson looked very assured all game. 7/10

Barry Douglas - Made some good tackles, had a good chance which he sliced from an Alioski cross, the ball was a little behind him and he couldn’t get his balance on the finish. Some good set-pieces and I still don’t understand how Alioski gets a look-in on set-pieces with Douglas in the side. Solid second half. Went off with an injury, hopefully he’s ok. 7/10

Kalvin Phillips - Played at CB for the first 25mins as Leeds started 3-3-1-3. Moved back into his more common role thereafter. Good covering to intercept on two occasions from Hull Good chance from a Jansson knock down but didn’t hit the shot well. Moved back to CB on 65mins when Hull went 2 up top, bringing on Fraizer Campbell and Nouha Dicko. Solid in both positions, never really tested. 7/10

Mateusz Klich - Had a good chance early with a left foot shot from edge of the box but didn’t catch the shot well. Able to get more involved once Leeds switched back to a back four had a few moments where he dictated in the first half. Gets the assist for Roberts’ opener but much more on the finish than the pass. Moved forward into Saiz role after the subs but Leeds then focused on defending so not in the game as much as you’d like. 7/10

Samu Saiz - Able to get at Hull for the first 10mins before they dropped off and he had far less space to operate. Good work to get Alioski in behind to set up a Douglas chance, ended the half with a weak shot. Got booked for a blatant dive not long before the hour mark. Went off for Forshaw as Leeds tightened up a bit. 6/10

Jack Harrison - Very quiet first half, passing tidy enough but he was unable to get past his man when the opportunity arose. Started the second half with a good in-swinging cross that Eric Lichaj did well to clear. Not involved enough overall, won a few tackles to give him his due. 5.5/10

Ezgjan Alioski - Missed a great chance after 35mins when put through by Tyler Roberts’ flicked pass, sort of chance you have to take. Was wasteful with the ball all through the first half until just before half time when he exchanged passes with Saiz and got in behind down the right, his pull back was good but Barry Douglas got ahead of the ball and mis-hit the finish. Second half, not that involved, as usual, good when helping out defensively. Him and Harrison very similar overall today. 5.5/10

Tyler Roberts - Excellent flicked through ball to send Alioski through for best chance of first half. Otherwise not in the game all that much. Gave Leeds the lead 5mins into the second half. Dropped deep to get on the ball, held off the defender well and struck the ball into the bottom-left corner from 25 yards. Cracking finish from the Wales international. A bit isolated towards the end, showed good strength and hold-up play at the end of the game. Not the easiest task tonight and just nicks the Man of the Match award for me. 8/10

SUBSTITUTES

Adam Forshaw (for Saiz, 74mins) - Tidy for the most part, couple of sloppy moments. 6/10

Stuart Dallas (for Harrison, 74mins) - 7mins on the right wing before moving to left-back. Good block to prevent an effort from Jarrod Bowen in the 91st minute. 6/10

Jamie Shackleton (for Douglas, 81mins) - Played right-wing with Dallas dropping to left-back. Not sure he had a chance to touch the ball. N/A