Leeds Player Ratings - Leeds 2 -2 Bristol City

What is it with Leeds United and awful first half performances of late? Again, after a shocker of a first half Leeds rallied to produce an improved second half, only this time we didn’t then end up losing. Is a point good enough from a home match against Bristol City? No. Is it better than we looked like getting for the first hour? Absolutely.

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

Felix Wiedwald - His main problem continues to be his lack of ability to command his area. He had already got away with one terrible punch (referee giving a free-kick) by the time he came for a Hordur Magnusson long throw and missed the ball completely. This was a terrible goalkeeping error. He was not the only one to blame as Leeds collectively defended very badly against the long throw, but when a keeper makes a mistake like that he can only get a low score. He did make a couple of good saves when Leeds were 2-0 down to give him the bit of credit that is due. Fans starting to ironically cheer when he catches the ball is not a good sign, and not something that I was pleased to hear to be honest. A poor performance. 4/10

Vernon Anita - He was ok, made one good sliding tackle and didn’t give the ball away too much. Perfectly decent performance but would not expect him to keep his place with Gaetano Berardi returning from suspension. Towards the end of the game came out of his shell a bit to try and come forward from full-back, something he has been missing when he has played there this season. 6/10

Matthew Pennington - In the first half looked completely lost. Struggling with balls coming into the box and when he had the ball at his feet his distribution was terrible. If Leeds had any defenders left he may well have got hauled off at half-time. To be fair to him though he was alright in the second half. Liam Cooper’s suspension is now over so it will be interesting to see who Paul Heckingbottom picks alongside Jansson for the trip to Derby on Wednesday. 4.5/10

Pontus Jansson - Not much of a game, improved in the second half like most of the players did. Was comfortably better than Pennington and was tidy in possession, although at the end of the first half he played a couple of really poor passes. Leeds conceded goals from long throws though and his job at set pieces is to be the guy who gets his head on the ball so not great on that today. 6/10

Laurens De Bock - The more I watch De Bock, the more I think he isn’t a very good left-back. He is constantly 5 yards out of position defensively and when he tackles he tries to come in from the wrong side too often. He struggles when the ball comes at him in the air and also seems to struggle when players run at him. His marking in particular is poor and I am constantly looking at his area of the pitch waiting for him to lose his man.

As a technical footballer he is fine, passing is ok, looks to be able to put in a decent cross, but his defensive work is not up to scratch and it is starting to worry me. Hopefully it is just him adapting to the league and he comes good. Today he was poor again and another couple of performances like this could see a chance for Tyler Denton or Tom Pearce, or Berardi left-back with Anita right-back. 5/10

Stuart Dallas - Finally got a chance a but further forward today but didn’t make the most of it. Had a decent effort early on saved well by Frank Fielding but he was unable to impose himself in the match and ended up giving the ball away a lot. Did some decent work in the air and as always put in plenty of effort. 5/10

Adam Forshaw - When we were playing badly, Forshaw looked decent, when we started playing well, Forshaw looked quality. More of what we are used to seeing from him today. Good in possession and combative when he needed to be. Had one decent chance but put his curling effort wide. Has very quickly become our best central midfielder. 7/10

Eunan O’Kane - O’Kane gets a lot of stick lately (some of it deserved), today he was poor. It has to be noted that we improved when he went off. Problem with O’Kane right now is that he seems to have lost his confidence and that has lead to him trying to play too safely all the time. When he does this well it is barely noticed, and if he does it badly it makes him look very poor. Would be surprised if he is in the starting line-up on Wednesday, to be honest I am surprised he started today. Would be happier with either Vieira or Phillips alongside Forshaw on current form. I am also sure he didn’t get knocked of the ball as easily earlier in the season as he seems to do now. Last season he was twice the player he is now. 4.5/10

Pablo Hernandez - Not very effective in the first half but with the way the game went he was never going to be, tried his best to create but the passes weren’t finding the mark. In the second half he was able to really get into the game. Found a bit more space and was more successful at beating his man. A very good assist with the cross for Lasogga’s goal and (although he won’t get the assist as it was touched on way through) Roofe’s equaliser came from his corner. His set piece delivery on the whole wasn’t actually very good today, too many overhit and straight out of play/into the keepers hands but he got a couple right. Can’t help but wonder what Heckingbottom is going to do with Hernandez now that Saiz’s suspension is over? Is there a way to successfully play both? Not if he wants to play 442 (maybe try Saiz as a forward with Lasogga) 8/10

Caleb Ekuban - One of his least effective performances in a Leeds shirt. The one thing you always get from him is a willingness to make runs and put pressure on defenders. He did do this today but not to the same level, could well not be fully fit yet. Quiet, but good to see him back. 5.5/10

Pierre-Michel Lasogga - Another game, another goal. First half very quiet, didn’t hold the ball up particularly well. Won a decent share of headers considering the centre-backs he was up against but couldn’t find a Leeds player with them. Second half a massive improvement (saying that a lot), good finish at the back post to get Leeds back in the match and was unlucky to hit the bar with his header right at the end of the game. Leeds are probably not getting a play-off spot this season, but our only real chance is to get Lasogga good service because he is a real goalscorer. 7.5/10

SUBSTITUTES

Kemar Roofe (for Caleb Ekuban, 64mins) - Wasn’t all that involved in the match once he came on for the most part. However, showed good instincts and anticipation to score at the back post from a corner and if an attacking substitute scores an equalising goal they have done a good job. Doesn’t have the same presence up top as Ekuban but is a much more natural goalscorer. 7/10

Hadi Sacko (for Stuart Dallas, 64mins) - One of his better games. Tidy in possession and kept giving Leeds an option out wide. Not bad at all. Although he did do one of the worst foul throws you will ever see. 6/10

Kalvin Phillips (for Eunan O’Kane, 73mins) - Barely in the game, but has one really good chance which he headed over. It looked in the ground as if the defender got a touch before it got to him, hard to adjust but he will have fancied himself to hit the target. Also got booked for diving in the penalty area. I was at the game so haven’t seen it back but it looked a very blatant dive. One of him or Ronaldo Vieira will probably replace O’Kane on Wednesday night against Derby County. 6/10