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Leeds United and Aston Villa played out one of the most controversial 1-1 draws you will see in front of a sold-out Elland Road.
FULL TIME: A dramatic clash at Elland Road comes to a close, as #LUFC and Aston Villa see out a 1-1 draw
— Leeds United (@LUFC) April 28, 2019
Mateusz Klich’s goal was scored when the Aston Villa team seemed to have stopped playing (Roberts did look like he was going to kick the ball out, but as anyone from the age of 6 upwards will tell you: “Play to the whistle”). Then this goal was cancelled out by Albert Adomah, who was allowed a free run at goal by Marcelo Bielsa who felt it was the right thing to do. Something which the players (barring Pontus Jansson) seemed to agree with.
Why should #lufc have stopped when ref had not blown for injury to player? Ref’s job, otherwise players could feign injury to have play stopped. (Not saying Villa player did.) But Bielsa showed his class by defusing situation and gifting the goal.
— Matt Cooper (@cooper_m) April 28, 2019
There was a bit of a scuffle after the Leeds goal, which Anwar El Ghazi was wrongly sent off for his part in. I would call out an opposition player for a dive in the same situation so I have to say that Patrick Bamford should be ashamed of himself for his part in the red card decision.
I fell for this in the ground. Thought he had got him. Rescind the ban. In order to not be a hypocrite, if you ban Bamford for the dive I aren't going to kick off. Hate seeing this from a Leeds player. #lufc #MOT #avfc https://t.co/h9mxcFp8td
— Mighty Whites Pod (@mightywhitespod) April 28, 2019
I assume whether we as fans agree that we should have let them score will be a fairly long segment of the next Mighty Whites Podcast (latest episode available to download here) so I will only say that I wouldn’t have given them a goal back.
73' GGGGGGGOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL!!!! MATEUSZ KLICH OPENS THE SCORING!!! THE CROWD GO WILD!!! 1-0 pic.twitter.com/IHpFsqy1kB
— Leeds United (@LUFC) April 28, 2019
Overall, it was a good game between two good sides, with a horrendous refereeing display from Stuart Attwell. Leeds were much improved from the last two matches and it is 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.
Dean Smith confirming Leeds have the 'highest running stats' in the division this season, something we've long suspected but weren't able to confirm officially. Take an immense amount of pride from that. This squad continues to give absolutely everything. #LUFC https://t.co/Ar8iyfcxI3
— LUFCDATA (@LUFCDATA) April 28, 2019
STARTING LINE-UP
Kiko Casilla - Made a couple of good saves, the most impressive of which was from a John McGinn header. Played 3 or 4 sloppy passes out from the back to give away possession. No attempt made on Villa’s goal for obvious reasons. 6.5/10
CHANCE: Glancing header from McGinn which Casilla dives to keep out of his far corner. 0-0 on 31 mins. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) April 28, 2019
Luke Ayling - Had a solid game and was very good in possession. Came into the game more in an attacking sense after the red card and ended up having a few shots at goal. Got caught under one cross which lead to a good chance for Villa and could have been a bigger issue. 7/10
My love for Luke Ayling knows no bounds, what a guy. #lufc
— LUFC TC (@All_Spies_LUFC) April 28, 2019
Pontus Jansson - Really good performance from the Sweden international. Good in the tackle and only really troubled once - when he tried to nutmeg his way out of trouble and gave the ball away. Made a half attempt to stop Adomah’s free goal to show his displeasure at the decision, which the crowd seemed to back him up on. Much needed improvement after a couple of poor performances. 8/10
Slightly odd from Bielsa on Jansson trying to stop Adomah score. "Jansson didn't want to obey the indication I gave. That diminishes my authority and I don't know what the consequences are when you lose respect from a player." But then said his answer was ironic. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) April 28, 2019
Liam Cooper - Similar level to his centre-back partner. Never looked troubled and his passing out from the back under pressure was exemplary. Booked for what looked like an excellent tackle on Jack Grealish. 8/10
Cooper has been excellent today. The players on the pitch now for the play offs please #lufc
— Jack Longstaff (@jlongstaffnews) April 28, 2019
Stuart Dallas - Not 100% comfortable as a left-back but didn’t do much wrong. Got beaten too easily on a couple of occasions to allow a cross in to the box. Had a good effort from distance on the half-volley. Subbed at half-time but did fine. 6/10
On the injury front, Dallas picked up a problem today. Roofe should be back for Ipswich. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) April 28, 2019
Kalvin Phillips - Quite why we had self-inflicted the wound of being without Phillips for 135+ minutes still baffles me. Followed Grealish for a lot of the game, seemed to make more tackles than anyone else on the pitch. Took over on corner duties following Harrison’s/Alioski’s/Hernandez’s consistently poor deliveries and his deliveries looked way more dangerous. Very good in his role and his presence helped the centre-backs to play much better as well. 8/10
MISSING PERSON REPORT: Jack Grealish has been missing for the since 12pm. Last seen in Kalvin Phillips' back pocket. Please message if you have any information about his whereabouts. #lufc pic.twitter.com/RSfcCvkEVC
— Billy (@thedonrevie) April 28, 2019
Adam Forshaw - Playing in the number 8 role instead of the number 4 role and the whole team looked better for it. Excellent in possession and got forward to have a few efforts on goal, going particularly close with a strike just wide of the left post early in the second half. Not an amazing performance but showed that him and Phillips doesn’t have to be an either/or selection. 7/10
One of the most enjoyable games all season for me. Leeds very good, loved seeing Phillips and Forshaw together with Roberts - electric atmosphere.. bring on the play offs #Lufc
— Chad Rooker (@ChadR_) April 28, 2019
Pablo Hernandez - Still not at his best but an improvement on his last couple of outings. Looked dangerous at times and started to dictate proceedings once Villa were reduced to 10 men. 7/10
35’ Hernandez drives forward before firing wide from 25 yards out. 0-0 pic.twitter.com/lwDhY2ih0u
— Leeds United (@LUFC) April 28, 2019
Mateusz Klich - Played in the number 10 role, which generally I am not a fan of him doing. Had a good game today though to prove me wrong. Some really good passing and movement and was involved in most of Leeds’ good moves. Had some nice moments of play but there were too many times where he didn’t get far enough forward, particularly when Bamford dropped off the front to get involved in play. Absolutely zero issue with him finishing the chance with Jonathan Kodjia down injured, it wasn’t a head injury and the referee allowed play to go on, and it was a good finish cutting inside on his right-foot. 7.5/10
The most controversial goal of the season, bar NONE!
— Soccer AM (@SoccerAM) April 28, 2019
Leeds United score whilst Aston Villa's Jonathan Kodjia is down injured 
A mass brawl kicks off!
Anwar El Ghazi gets sent off pic.twitter.com/BHbLhr2uGb
Jack Harrison - Subbed at half-time once again, deserved to be subbed at half-time once again. Had a really good chance on his right foot which he scuffed, outside of that a very forgettable performance. 5/10
Roberts has played 45 mins and has already put in more quality crosses in than Harrison has all season.
— Justin Hardy (@Hardyboy79) April 28, 2019
Just saying. #lufc
Patrick Bamford - A bit too isolated at times but provided some good runs and held the ball up well enough. Kept trying the same turn back on to his left-foot despite it repeatedly not working. I haven’t seen it back on tv but many people are saying he was lucky to only get a yellow for his part in the post-goal handbags and the way he dives and pretends he was hit by El Ghazi for his red card is something I hope he is embarrassed by. 5/10
Actual footage of Patrick Bamford #lufc #AVFC pic.twitter.com/AqErWM5fgh
— Darren Burke (@DarrenBurkeSYN) April 28, 2019
SUBSTITUTES
Tyler Roberts (for Harrison, HT) - A really lively presence when introduced and always looked likely to create something. Got an assist in a way you wouldn’t expect but he deserved one for some of his excellent crosses which just evaded his teammates. Had a few good efforts himself and was probably unlucky not to get a goal of his own. 7.5/10
Tyler Roberts is some player btw #lufc
— Kingy (@kingylufc) April 28, 2019
Gaetano Berardi (for Dallas, HT) - Defensively more solid than Dallas, but looked less comfortable than him when Leeds were on the attack. Good passing in defensive areas though and had a decent effort blocked. 6.5/10
Credit to Berardi. All kicks off and he didn't get a red card. Growth. #lufc
— The Scratching Shed (@TSSLUFC) April 28, 2019