Leeds Player Ratings - Sheff Utd 0 - 1 Leeds

A late goal from Pablo Hernandez gave Leeds United all three points at Brammal Lane for the first time since Leeds clinch the Division One title in 1992.

The match was a pretty even affair in terms of the balance of play. However, Leeds had plenty to complain about as Sheffield United could and probably should have been down to nine men by halftime. David McGoldrick made a horrible studs-up tackle on Mateusz Klich and Enda Stevens committed a blatant foul which was easily a booking having already been booked earlier in the half.

After a strong start from the Blades, Leeds worked their way back into the game and managed to keep a clean sheet despite losing captain Liam Cooper to injury. This defensive work was rewarded when substitute Jack Clarke put pressure on goalkeeper Dean Henderson and was able to intercept his terrible ball out from the back. The 18-year-old showed great composure to find Hernandez unmarked in the box who passed the ball into an empty net.

Sheffield United went close to an equaliser when Conor Washington hit the crossbar with an overhead kick, but Leeds held out to take a massive three points.

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 - Made a couple of good saves to deny McGoldrick. Harder to judge his distribution today as Leeds knocked the ball long far more often than they usually would. Struggled under the majority of crosses he was asked to deal with and got lucky on that front. 7/10

Kalvin Phillips - Started on the right of a back three, moved to the left following the injury to Liam Cooper. Very impressive in the air, you would never know he only recently started playing as a centre-back. The latest in a string of excellent performances. 8/10

Pontus Jansson - For me, just edges Phillips today. Just as good in the air and a touch better in the tackle. When the pressure was on in the last few minutes he threw himself at everything to make sure Leeds took the three points. 8.5/10

Liam Cooper - Injured after 20 minutes. Was solid before that. Injury looked serious as he couldn’t put any weight on it, hopefully it isn’t as bad as I fear. 6/10

Stuart Dallas - I slated him against West Bromwich Albion. Since then, 3 games, 3 clean sheets, 3 good performances. Looks better as a right-wing-back with three CBs than in a back four. Got forward well at times and put in a couple of good crosses. Not perfect defensively but massively improved on earlier in the season. 7/10

Adam Forshaw - Did a really important job today in the deeper midfield role. Excellent in possession and made some good tackles as well. Kept Mark Duffy out of the game well, which has been no easy task of late. 7.5/10

Barry Douglas - Set pieces weren’t at his best consistently. Good work defensively and never looked in any trouble. Got Leeds into some really good positions with passes inside from the wing, particularly when looking for Roofe and Klich. 7/10

Mateusz Klich - Found it a little bit harder to drive the team forward with one fewer central midfielder in the side but still able to have a couple of decent efforts on goal. Better in the second half than the first. Solid performance. Luckily not injured by McGoldrick’s poor tackle. 6.5/10

Pablo Hernandez - As has been the case lately, not always in the game and not always at his best. As has also often been the case lately, got on the scoresheet with an important goal, taking advantage of Clarke’s pass following Dean Henderson’s error. Played through the middle for most of the match having switched with Roofe in a tactical change which Marcelo Bielsa credited to Pablo Quiroga, the change worked and Leeds improved very quickly from that point. 7/10

Ezgjan Alioski - Hauled off at HT again. Didn’t do much at all. Surely this time he loses his place. He can play much better than this, he is just in awful form right now. 4/10

Kemar Roofe - Went very close with a header in the second half but today he had to do more of a defensive role for the team today. Moved out to the right hand side to give Leeds more protection against Sheff Utd’s marauding wing-backs. Did the job required very well, not his most eye-catching performance but a very useful one. 7/10

SUBSTITUTES

Aapo Halme (for Cooper, 21mins) - A very badly hit clearance straight to McGoldrick could have got Leeds in trouble but for a good save from BPF. Aside from that, looked every bit a 1st team level player, just one who looked a little nervous. Forced a good save from Henderson when the ball fell to him at a set-piece. With Cooper’s injury we could see a lot of him over the coming weeks. 6.5/10

Jack Clarke (for Alioski, HT) - Once again, made a difference when he came on. Touch was a bit inconsistent at times but his directness gave Sheff Utd’s defenders something to think about. Had a decent effort saved from the edge of the box and did some good defensive work chasing back. His pace was evidenced by his closing down to win the ball back for the goal, and he showed excellent composure to lift his pass over the leg of Henderson to give Hernandez a simple chance. The calls for him to get a start will only get louder. 7/10

Jamie Shackleton (for Hernandez, 90mins) - Not on long enough to score. N/A