Leeds Player Ratings - Derby 2 - 2 Leeds

Leeds United conceded a late equaliser to draw 2-2 away at Derby County.

In the first half Leeds weren’t great and Derby looked the better side. However, without a late error Leeds could have gone in 1-0 up after a goal against the run of play from Pierre-Michel Lasogga. Despite the poor performance it was the best position we have been in at halftime for a while.

The second half was more of the same until Leeds introduced Samu Saiz, this gave Leeds so much more in attack than they had previously. Although Derby still had most of the ball, Leeds were now a danger on the counter attack and were rewarded when, from a Derby free-kick, Saiz broke and beat two players before finding fellow substitute Ezgjan Alioski who scored at the second attempt. It was very nervy as every Leeds fan hoped for Leeds to hold on.

Did we? Of course not. A cheap corner, a lofted cross, defence all over the place, Kasey Palmer stabs home. On the balance of play Derby deserved something from the game. However, 2-1 up in stoppage time you can only pissed off with a 2-2 draw.

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 - The lack of confidence was displayed in the first half when he didn’t call for a ball that was easily his which resulted in a needless corner where we could have been punished. Can’t be blamed for the first goal. For all Derby’s first half possession he didn’t have that much to do. I said before the game that I was glad they stuck with Wiedwald, not as glad right now.

In the second half he made a decent save to deny Tom Lawrence, and reacted quickly to clear the ball with feet to prevent the rebound. In stoppage time Leeds gave away another cheap corner from Wiedwald’s lack of communication. Then from the ball into the box Leeds are all over the place and Kasey Palmer stabs home an equaliser. 4.5/10

Gaetano Berardi - Lucky to get away with it when dispossessed on the edge of the Leeds penalty area in the first half. After that was pretty solid. Not a great deal to say. Had a better second half than he did first half. Will keep his place in the side, chance he may move to left-back after De Bock’s performance. 6/10

Pontus Jansson - Had a really good first half. Covered well when players got away and covered for errors well, of which there were too many.

Was massive at set-pieces all game where he seemed to win it almost everytime it was swung in. Unfortunately was unable to win the ball when it came into the box for the equaliser. By far the best member of our defence tonight. Man of the Match for me. 8/10

Liam Cooper - Back in the side as Captain, great long ball to find Dallas in the build up to the opening goal, a really well judged ball and a moment of quality from him. At fault for the goal (along with De Bock), went to head the ball away and instead heads it 10 yards backwards to Andreas Weimann who is never going to miss from 8 yards.

Had a good chance in the second half from a Hernandez cross but headed it over. Although Wiedwald should have communicated better to prevent the corner in the first place, there was a second poor header from Cooper in the build to that goal (way more on Wiedwald than it was Cooper). However, there was quite a few errors on that goal with the defence losing all shape. Right at the end he made one very good clearance from a dangerous cross. 5/10

Laurens De Bock - One good moment going forward early on when he found Hernandez for a volley on goal. Early error with a complete airshot when clearing the ball could have cost us a goal early. Had another airshot 10 minutes later and then let Weimann run past him instead of tracking his run allowing him a chance clean through on goal. Also, at fault for the goal, Cooper’s header was poor but De Bock closed in on him for no reason when he was meant to be holding his position and dropping back. Neither went for the header or tracked his man. (That’s just the first half)

The second half didn’t start great either, and just after the hour mark he played a back pass in behind Cooper that put us in real danger.

From 65 minutes in his performance picked up. He won a couple of good tackles and started to get forward a bit more. The errors then disappeared. It remains to be seen if this decent last 30mins will keep him in the side. He was on for one of my lowest ratings before the last half hour. 3/10

Stuart Dallas - Good work on the right to set up Lasogga for the opening goal. Was defended badly but so often Leeds’ final ball is lacking and his was judged very well. Through the rest of the game was tidy on the ball but got through a lot of good defensive work, making a lot of good tackles. Had a good game but if Hernandez (who may not be fit), Saiz and Alioski all fit, Heckingbottom may want to try and revisit that 3 to see if they can rediscover their early season link up play. 7.5/10

Adam Forshaw - Quiet first half but was fairly tidy in possession. In the second half a bit more assertive but was solid all game. As usual, good passing, good in the tackle. I would be seriously tempted to make him captain. 7/10

Ronaldo Vieira - Booked in the first half after some naive play where he got wrong side of Weimann and pulled him back. One of a fair few errors in the first half, sloppy in possession far too often. Not winning the ball as much as you would hope from him. Another error saw him lose possession and Tom Lawrence hit the bar from outside the area. Doesn’t look fit and would expect him to drop to the bench for Saturday’s match against Brentford. 4.5/10

Pablo Hernandez - A couple of nice passes first half and one good volley which was well blocked. Not at this best but played ok. Very good cross for Cooper in the second half to create a good chance. Went off with an injury so really hope he is ok, would be a huge miss if anything serious. 6.5/10

Kemar Roofe - In the first half you could have missed him being on the pitch. He was then on the pitch for 9 minutes of the second half. Which was very quiet. Didn’t make any major errors. 4.5/10

Pierre-Michel Lasogga - Barely touched the ball for 30mins then scored the opening goal. That is Lasogga’s game. Good cross from Dallas, Lasogga didn’t take his eye off the ball with the keeper approaching and headed in well. Won a few balls in air first half but that was less needed second half as Leeds got the ball down a bit more. Had a volley that he snatched wide second half but nothing really came his way in the second half. 7/10

SUBSTITUTES

Samu Saiz (For Roofe, 54mins) - Leeds looked so much more threatening with him on the pitch. Pace of the attack improved and every other player seemed to gain confidence. Great work for Leeds second goal, beat two players and found Alioski in acres of space. Won’t get the assist officially because Alioski scored at second attempt, but it was an assist really. We have missed him so much. Please do not get banned again. 7/10

Kalvin Phillips (For Vieira, 62mins) - Not much to say. Was an improvement on Vieira but didn’t see that much of him. I think he will start on Saturday. 6/10

Ezgjan Alioski (For Hernandez, 76mins) - Came on, two crosses intercepted, then keeps up with Saiz on the break, gets played clean through. The first finish is poor but he reacts very well to head the ball home. Hopefully this can be the start of another run of form for the Macedonia international. Couple of decent tackles when working back as well. Best performance for a while. 7/10