Leeds United had an Eddie Nketiah goal to thank for their 1-1 draw at Deepdale against Preston North End.
FULL TIME: #LUFC walk away from Deepdale with a point, after Eddie Nketiah's 87th minute equaliser cancels out Tom Barkhuizen's opener. 1-1
— Leeds United (@LUFC) October 22, 2019
Leeds were the better side but you couldn’t go as far as saying they were dominant and Preston punished Leeds’ profligacy when Sean Maguire broke in behind and put it on a plate for Tom Barkhuizen to give them the lead. However, coming off the bench, Nketiah produced a fantastic header from a Jack Harrison cross to earn Leeds an important point.
Leeds had the better of a goalless first half. Patrick Bamford went close on three occasions, and there were also good chances for Ben White and Ezgjan Alioski. Preston weren’t without threat themselves though and a poor Gaetano Berardi backpass almost played Leeds into real trouble - Casilla coming off his line well to clear.
Well that's ended the Bamford v Nketiah debate. Unless of course, you're Marcelo Bielsa. #LUFC
— LUFCDATA (@LUFCDATA) October 22, 2019
Second half was an even contest with Leeds missing another couple of good chances. Then, in the 75th minute, Preston took the lead. One long pass in behind caught Alioski up field, the covering for him was also poor, sending Sean Maguire down the right flank with a 2v1 against Ben White, he squared it and found Tom Barkhuizen to finish at the far post.
Eddie Nketiah replaced the wasteful Bamford and made the difference with an excellent header from Jack Harrison’s looping far post cross. There were men on the line and the keeper to beat but Nketiah produced an excellent header to bring Leeds level. With 10 seconds to go, there was a massive penalty shout for what looked like a foul on Tyler Roberts in the area - but referee Kevin Friend was unmoved.
Start him!!!!!
— Ian Wright (@IanWright0) October 22, 2019
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
Kiko Casilla - Got off his line well to clear a terrible Berardi backpass and had to do it again to clear a ball in behind later in the first half. Nothing to do then until he picked the ball out of the net. Went back onto his line in the build up to the goal, maybe could have come out but I would have to see it again to be sure. 6/10
Casilla, the man who comes for everything, goes trotting backwards to leave us 2v1 at the back ♂️ that is so us #lufc
— Paul Sawyer (@thesawyershow) October 22, 2019
Luke Ayling - Decent start barring one really obvious lack of concentration where he let the ball straight under his foot. Solid first half. Created a good chance for Harrison just before the hour mark. Solid match and was a calming influence. 6.5/10
Dare I say it that I prefer Dallas at RB to Ayling too? Would like to see him slot back in there, Klich bit deeper and Roberts number 10 behind Eddie. Costa on left when Pablo is back. #LUFC
— Mikey (@MikeyM666) October 22, 2019
Ben White - Made an important stretching clearance when Preston almost got in behind. His usual self, assured on the ball and never in danger first half. Had a great chance from an Alioski cross but hit it straight at Declan Rudd in the Preston goal. Left incredibly isolated for Barkhuizen’s goal. 7/10
Gaetano Berardi - Played a horrific backpass in the 6th minute which Casilla managed to clear for a throw-in. Did well following the mistake, a couple of well timed tackles in and around the Leeds penalty area. Stood up well in the air. Seemed way too far forward for Barkhuizen’s goal. 6/10
Why is Berardi always capable of that dodgy backpass?
— Tom (@Tombatty2) October 22, 2019
Ezgjan Alioski - Played in behind by Klich early on but was wasteful with it and put it out for a goal-kick when he had lots of time. Dragged a good chance wide from the edge of the box in the latter stages of the first half. Provided cross for great Ben White chance. Had another edge of the box effort from a clever short corner two minutes into the second half but it was well blocked, soon after got caught upfield for opening goal. Needs to up his composure in attacking areas. 6/10
Leeds caught up field after Alioski chance, Maguire breaks down the right and crosses to the back post where Barkhuizen is unmarked. Easy chance, turns it in. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) October 22, 2019
Kalvin Phillips - Couple of good corners for early Bamford chances. Consistently good with set-pieces first half. Tidied up well on a couple of occasions first half. Not as many tackles as you usually see from him, did well in the air when needed. Dropped into centre-back when Leeds were pushing for an equaliser and did fine. Gave the ball away a bit more than you usually see but not to a problematic level. 7/10
Helder Costa - Able to get on the ball and bring it inside early on which caused Preston some issues. Hit a first time volley over from a Phillips corner, it was a tough one to get on target. Came out of his shell in the 67th minute with some great play down the right, found Klich in the box leading to a good chance for Bamford. Showed some flashes, but not enough for the level of player he has the ability to be. 6/10
Bamford and Costa have got to be dropped for Saturday #LUFC #MOT Eddie finishes those first missed chances and then Bamford on to bully their tired defenders from 70+mins
— Tommaso Yorkshire T (@tommy23h) October 22, 2019
Stuart Dallas - Good early link-up with Klich. Played Bamford in for a good chance down the right channel. Didn’t look at all out of place in the middle and produced a great cross from wide that was inches from being perfect for Bamford. Second half, more of the same but slightly less comfortable than in the first half. 6/10
Mateusz Klich - Got Alioski in behind with his first contribution. Quiet first half but tidy on the ball when he had it. Good pass to Harrison in build up to good Alioski chance. Good pull back to set up Bamford for another chance in the 67th minute. Played an excellent reverse ball for an Alioski effort too. Sometimes not the most dynamic in this role, but he does tend to pick a pass well when it is on. 6.5/10
Dallas is no centre mid and Klich seriously needs to up his game we’re missing Pablo so much
— Mark Ramm (@LufcRammy) October 22, 2019
Jack Harrison - Very good ball in behind for Dallas which could have been a great chance if not for an excellent tackle. Good lay-off for Alioski for a good chance for the North Macedonia man. Put a volley wide of the near post from an Ayling cross and probably should have done better with it. Got the assist once again with a looping cross for Nketiah’s header. 6/10
Harrison may still be incredibly frustrating but he's really turned over a new leaf in the last month. Three assists in three games now. Would be four in four if Alioski's strike at WBA didn't go down as an OG.
— Matt Dawson (@mattddawson) October 22, 2019
Promising signs given so many continue to struggle around him. #LUFC
Patrick Bamford - Early header wide from Phillips corner, not an easy header but will feel he should have hit the target, was unmarked. Then fired wide with his right foot when played in by Dallas - definitely should have done better with it. Had another headed chance from a corner in 22nd minute, this one he has to at least hit the target but he put it over the bar. Excellent work rate as usual. On a couple of occasions he wanted a bit too much time on the ball. Much like Birmingham City match, decent overall play but didn’t take the chances when they arrived.
Quieter in the second half with a couple of decent bits of link-up play. Had a good chance from a Klich pull back but sliced the effort out for a throw-in, a waste from a really good Leeds move. Pulled soon after it went 1-0. 4.5/10
Patrick Bamford vs. Preston:
— LUFCDATA (@LUFCDATA) October 22, 2019
6 shots
0 on-target
No defending his finishing tonight. Dreadful. Now failed to score in 8 consecutive matches. #LUFC
SUBSTITUTES
Tyler Roberts (for Berardi, 77th min) - Some nice touches and looked threatening going forward. Massive penalty shout in the last 10 seconds for a sliding challenge on him in the area. Would need to see a replay to know if it was - looked a penalty in real time but aware I am biased. 6.5/10
Big, big call for a penalty for a foul on Roberts. Not given. That's full time. 1-1. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) October 22, 2019
Eddie Nketiah (for Bamford, 77th min) - Barely touched the ball for nine minutes, then scored a fantastic header. Must be in against Sheffield Wednesday surely? Even Marcelo Bielsa’s level of patience must be tested by now. 7/10
Bamford minutes per goal: 253
— ZL (@lufcZxch) October 22, 2019
Nketiah minutes per goal: 79#lufc pic.twitter.com/GEqgtTK5fa