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Leeds United extended their winning run with a 1-0 win against Bolton Wanderers at the University of Bolton Stadium.
FULL TIME: The game draws to a close and it is Patrick Bamford who continues Leeds United's winning run
— Leeds United (@LUFC) December 15, 2018
A goal from substitute Patrick Bamford takes Marcelo Bielsa’s side to the top of the table (potentially only for a couple of hours).
✅ Starts first game since September
— Leeds United (@LUFC) December 15, 2018
Scores a hat-trick for the U23s
Comes on against Bolton
Scores first #LUFC league goal
What a week for @Patrick_Bamford! pic.twitter.com/mW9iiofXS3
Leeds were the better side throughout and went close early on through a Pablo Hernandez header but in truth it wasn’t much of a game. In the second half, it was more of the same but Bamford’s goal at the end of the best footballing move of the match gave Leeds the lead. Leeds made too many sloppy mistakes and Bolton had a very strong penalty appeal following a terrible backpass from Adam Forshaw, although the replays showed the referee probably got the decision correct.
Leeds have won FIVE consecutive league matches for the first time since December 2009. Our best league run in NINE years. #LUFC pic.twitter.com/JVlyjWYZo3
— LUFCDATA (@LUFCDATA) December 15, 2018
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 - No saves to make. Dealt with a couple of crosses well, looked shaky on a couple of others. One really hairy moment where he came out of his box and ended up flicking the ball over the attacker before clearing, it was a good recovery but his starting position caused the problem in the first place. Nevertheless, a clean sheet is never to be sniffed at. 6.5/10
BPF. Excellent recovery from some appalling positioning. #lufc #MOT
— Mighty Whites Pod (@mightywhitespod) December 15, 2018
Jamie Shackleton - Leeds best overall play may well have been the first 10 minutes and Shackleton was getting forward well and was very involved in the attacks during this spell. Once the game became scrappy, he was less of a force going forward but he defended well throughout, good in possession too. 7/10
Have to say Jamie Shackleton has come along massively since the start of the season. Turning out to be a cracking player. Likewise with Clarke. #lufc #mot
— LUFC HOME & AWAY (@LUFC________) December 15, 2018
Pontus Jansson - Excellent performance from the Sweden international. Won almost everything in the air and won the tackles he was required to make. Did well to cover for some of the sloppy passing in midfield which was a bit too frequent, the last 15mins of the first half he must done that 4/5 times. 8.5/10
Champions result that. Jansson & Forshaw excellent for me. Hernandez with another assist #Lufc
— Lee (@LufcLee19) December 15, 2018
Kalvin Phillips - A better performance than he produced against Queens Park Rangers. Did well in the air but was overshadowed by his centre-back partner in that regard. Not faultless though and did make a couple of errors. 6.5/10
Bolton trying to get past Phillips and Jansson #lufc pic.twitter.com/GdRJg38j4S
— YBI (@YeboahBelieveIt) December 15, 2018
Barry Douglas - Back to playing some of his good passes inside when he could get forward. Some good strength defensively although he struggled for pace on a couple of occasions. Set-piece deliveries were fine but not at their most dangerous. Excellent header off the line late on could prove to be a crucial moment come the end of the season. 7/10
CHANCE: Douglas heads off the line after Jack Hobbs meets the corner with a firm header. Got to tough this out. 0-1 on 86 mins. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) December 15, 2018
Adam Forshaw - Better in the second half than the first once again. Some strong work in the tackle second half and maintained possession well on most occasions. Got more opportunity to spread the play with cross field passes as he likes to do. Got caught in possession in a dangerous area in the first half but got lucky as the ref gave a free-kick. The good Bolton penalty shout came from Forshaw playing a terrible mis-hit pass into the Leeds penalty area. His job is to marshal the game, particularly at 1-0 up, and mistakes like that need to be eliminated or at least reduced. 7/10
Forshaw has been outstanding in this second half. #LUFC
— Subjective Football (@BenBuford11) December 15, 2018
Pablo Hernandez - Played the first half on the right hand side. Had Leeds best effort of the first half in the first couple of minutes with a good header turned over the bar. Then the game became scrappy and he was less involved. Second half, moved into the attacking central position in the 4-1-4-1 and was far more involved immediately. Started looking more creative and got the assist for Bamford’s goal with a great through-ball through the defenders legs. Did have some really sloppy moments but whenever that happened he was first on the scene to win the ball back. Another excellent performance from the former Spain international. 8/10
Pablo Hernandez has now been directly involved in 14 goals in 15 Championship matches this season. #LUFC
— LUFCDATA (@LUFCDATA) December 15, 2018
15 games
7 goals ⚽
7 assists
All hail King Pablo. #LUFC pic.twitter.com/7znh9gckmU
Lewis Baker - I said on the podcast that I would be surprised if Baker gets another start in the league this season. I hadn’t reckoned on Samuel Saiz being sold at that point, but I still don’t see how he ended up getting the nod today. Just like his last start he was pulled at Half-Time, with his most telling contribution being him giving the ball away in a dangerous area before Jansson got him out of jail, he didn’t give it away much but his passing was very negative even when it found a man. Not a good day for him. 4/10
Bielsa felt Lewis Baker was better today than against Reading but he wanted to try and get more influence in attacking midfield by moving Hernandez there. Despite the result, he didn't feel Leeds were significantly better there in the second half. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) December 15, 2018
Mateusz Klich - Had a couple of good efforts on goal, both well saved by Ben Alnwick. Had a bit more space in the second half as he didn’t get much help from Baker in the first half. Seemed to get tired in the second half and had a few sloppy moments with the ball. 6.5/10
Good Attempt from Klich well saved #LUFC #MOT pic.twitter.com/QZ1LfJ66yg
— LUFC Goals (@LUFC_Goals) December 15, 2018
Ezgjan Alioski - A good early cross to find Hernandez for his early chance. Good work rate as usual but gave the ball away on too many occasions and didn’t offer enough of a threat after that early chance. 5/10
Better second half. Still not at our best, but will take that all day long. BPF, Shack and Clarke class. Time to put Alioski out of his misery, not sure who comes in though (given Clarke in for Baker)... #lufc
— AP (@1988AMP) December 15, 2018
Kemar Roofe - Poorest game for a while but not really his fault. Received no service. Bamford far more of a threat today. 5/10
Nothing much for Roofe to work with in that hour and couldn't get himself into the game. Bamford's first appearance since Middlesbrough at home in August. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) December 15, 2018
SUBSTITUTES
Jack Clarke (for Lewis Baker, HT) - Terrifies defenders and got in behind well with bits of skill. Involved in the Leeds goal by driving forward 60 yards with the ball to get a counter-attack going. If Hernandez moves central he is in with a real shout of a start soon. 7/10
Great football. Phillips good tackle to win the ball. Clarke carries it 60 yards, to Klich, to Hernandez, excellent nutmeg through ball to Bamford. Good right-foot finish. Get In. #lufc #MOT
— Mighty Whites Pod (@mightywhitespod) December 15, 2018
Patrick Bamford (for Kemar Roofe, 61mins) - Excellent right-foot finish for the crucial goal. Showed good movement throughout his time on the pitch and was able to get more involved than Roofe today. Wouldn’t expect a start yet but did himself no harm in that regard. 7.5/10
Bamford GOAL + Celebration with head of medicine Rob Price. #LUFC pic.twitter.com/2NVx9Jiw1n
— Adam Floyd Thomas (@adzng5) December 15, 2018
Aapo Halme (for Hernandez, 94mins) - Not on long enough to score. N/A