Leeds Player Ratings - Sheff Wed 1 - 1 Leeds

Leeds United drew 1-1 at Hillsborough against Sheffield Wednesday after a really good match. Leeds were the better side throughout but only came away with a point following great goals from Adam Reach and Mateusz Klich.

First Half, Leeds were far from faultless but were the better side and had a couple of really good chances to score. Then, Adam Reach scored one of the best goals you’ll see all season. Leeds gave him a bit too much room from a simple throw-in but a bouncing ball out-wide 35 yards from goal isn’t a danger situation and the strike would leave any keeper with no chance.

Second half was all Leeds. Mateusz Klich’s equaliser was a great goal and Leeds really should have won the match. However, the performance was a massive improvement from the Birmingham City display and that is something to be pleased with. A draw away from home against a decent side is never an awful result.

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 off his line to make a fantastic tackle on Forestieri. Made a decent save from Ashley Baker to tip his shot round the post. A couple of slightly shaky moments under crosses. No chance with Reach’s ridiculous goal. Another good save not long after Klich’s goal. Showed good concentration to make a good save from reach with a minute to go. 7/10

Luke Ayling - Gave the ball away a bit too much early on. Solid defensively first half and still good overall. Early in the second made an error to give ball away on the edge of the box which lead to a chance that was saved well by BPF. Got in behind to get on the end of a Cooper ball for a weak left-foot shot when he probably should have passed to Saiz. Drove forward throughout the second half and his passing improved later in the game. 7/10

Pontus Jansson - Got his head on 3 early Sheff Wed crosses which could have been dangerous, did give away one needless corner. Made a great block in last 10 mins when Leeds went to sleep at a throw-in. Good in the air throughout and his passing was good barring a couple of poor ones into central midfield. Another good performance from the Sweden international. 7.5/10

Liam Cooper - Solid defensively. Really good ball from the halfway line to look for Alioski in behind. Really good strike from 30 yards but it was straight at Cameron Dawson in Wednesday’s goal. A couple of really good cross field passes in behind the Sheff Wed left-back.Passing was similar to Jansson overall, good overall with a couple of poor ones. Had a header in the last minute but the ball was just too high for him to get over the top of. Another solid performance from the captain. 7/10

Barry Douglas - Had Leeds first effort when he met a Saiz cross at the back post which was well saved. Missed a great chance with a header from a Saiz cross having arrived at the back post completely unmarked but he made a bit of a mess of the header and hit the post. Good work in both directions in the second half. Got on the end on an excellent Harrison cross but headed across goal rather than going for goal, which was probably a 50/50 call that I won’t criticise. If he was better with his head in front of goal he could have ended up with a couple tonight. 7/10

Kalvin Phillips - Some good tackles early on. Had a chance after a Douglas knock down just after the chance Douglas missed which he didn’t strike as well as well as he would hope. Dropped in as a 3rd CB when Sheff Wed switched to 2 up top and looked solid, passed the ball well throughout. 7/10

Jack Harrison - A bit sloppy when receiving the ball in the opening 20mins. Put in a decent cross that was just too high from a decent position. Played a fantastic ball in which was almost turned into his own net by Baker. Had a decent effort not long after following good work from Phillips. Gave the ball away with a couple of sloppy passes, Leeds were nearly punished for one of them but BPF saved Baker’s shot.

Full of energy second half. Great cross for Douglas who again got free at the back post. He headed across for Roberts rather than going for goal and it was well intercepted, could have gone for goal though. Wasted two excellent late chances when getting the final ball wrong. Kept driving forward, won a late corner with a blocked effort. Not consistent right now but is looking a threat. 7/10

Mateusz Klich - Nearly got Leeds into trouble with a really poor pass which put Fernando Forestieri in behind the Leeds defence (before one hell of a dive from the Wednesday forward). A good left-foot strike from the edge of the box which Dawson tipped over the bar. Made it 1-1 with a fantastic curling strike from 25 yards into the right-side netting, great goal from the Poland international. Much more effective with his passing in the second half and pushed Leeds forward much more. Second half stood out a mile and with the goal takes the Man of the Match award today. 8/10

Samu Saiz - Created an early chance for Douglas. Couldn’t get into the game enough for first 30mins. Should have had an assist with a great cross for the chance which Douglas hit the post from. Not at his best but Leeds looked dangerous whenever he got on the ball and he got into some really good shooting positions but wasn’t given the ball. Looked annoyed when subbed but provided it doesn’t come out he said anything really stupid I don’t mind that much. 7.5/10

Ezgjan Alioski - Played into the hands of his stereotype by being caught offside in a good position after 2mins. Worked hard but again didn’t have the end product. Should have got something on a good ball from Cooper. In behind from an excellent Harrison pass, but his chest control was a little behind him and his right-foot shot was blocked by Tom Lees. A little too wasteful but was considerably better than he was against Birmingham. 6/10

Tyler Roberts - Most of time on the ball first half not in the most dangerous areas but showed good pace and kept making decent runs. Showed good pace to get on to some passes where he looked second favourite. Got the assist for Klich’s goal but it is one where the assist gets less credit than normal unfortunately. Good left-foot effort from the edge of the box which went very close. Second half, his running into the channels gave Leeds an out-ball when needed and a threat in behind. Great headed chance following a poor punch which fell to Ayling when he maybe could have done better. 7/10

SUBSTITUTES

Adam Forshaw (For Saiz, 89mins) - Had an optimistic shot that wasn’t close. Not on long enough to score. N/A