Leeds Players Rated And Slated After Sunderland Clash

· GiveMeSport

How the Whites stars fared in drab encounter with Sunderland

It's fair to say that Sunderland vs Leeds United will not live long in the memory as a high-quality Premier League clash.

The two teams played out a pretty drab 0-0 draw on Sunday afternoon, with the match failing to live up to its Super Sunday billing on Sky Sports.

Sunderland probably had the better of the chance in the main, as they looked to move off the bottom of the Premier League table, but Leeds keeper James Trafford was equal to everything that the Black Cats could throw at him.

In terms of Leeds, they had far too many players who had an off-day and could not make an impact in the top half of the pitch.

Here GIVEMESPORT rates the Leeds players in our school report card style.

James Trafford - B+

Made a rather unconventional-looking save to deny Brobbey early on in the match. And then made an even better save to deny the same player following a poor Bijol backpass.

Continued to make some strong saves in the second half, getting his team out of trouble on numerous occasions. By far Leeds' best player.

James Justin - C

Curled a second-half effort wide as he tried to help out in the attacking third.

Sunderland did have a number of good opportunities going the other way, perhaps showing Leeds' openness at the back, but they managed to keep them out.

Tarik Muharemovic - C

They did not look at their most comfortable at the back, with the Leeds backline struggling to contend with the return of Brobbey and the elements on a windy afternoon.

Kept a clean sheet though, so must have done something right.

Jaka Bijol - C

Made a mistake midway through the first half that he was lucky not to be punished for. Trafford bailed him out with a good stop to deny Brobbey.

Made a few poor tackles as Sunderland stretched the Leeds backline at times.

Jayden Bogle - C

Roamed down the right well, particularly in the second half after a drab first period.

Was perhaps lucky in the second half after going in high, studs first on Angulo that almost caught him on the chest. Was clearly going for the ball, so perhaps that was why he escaped red.

Ethan Ampadu - B-

Tangled with Nilson Angulo on the left-hand edge of the box and picked up the first booking of the contest. Made a fine tackle that almost went unnoticed to stop Granit Xhaka getting into the box and unleashing a shot.

As ever, went about his business pretty tidily.

Ao Tanaka - C

Always looked for the ball from his defenders to try and get Leeds moving up the pitch.

That's about all you can say about his performance.

Gabriel Gudmundsson - C-

Had a bit more space to run into in the second half than he did in the first period, but like many others, was not at his best on the day.

Did have a really good late effort pushed round the post by Robin Roefs.

Harry Wilson - D

Huffed and puffed with little end product. Was hooked soon after the hour mark following a pretty ineffective performance.

Yet to reach the heights that he showed at Fulham last season. Must do better.

Brenden Aaronson - D

Totally anonymous in the first half.

You could say the same about the second period too. Like Wilson, was pretty ineffective and it was no surprise to see him taken off at the same time too.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin - D

Worked hard up front in the first half but was beaten out of possession by the Sunderland backline on numerous occasions as he struggled to get a foothold on the game.

Second half passed him by.

Substitutes

Noah Okafor - B-

Tried to get Leeds going at the top end of the pitch, with little reward. Did more in half an hour than Calvert-Lewin did in an hour, however.

Anton Stach - C

Did not do much in his half an hour on the pitch.

Lukas Nmecha - C

Only had six minutes off the bench.

Sean Longstaff - B-

Had a glorious chance to claim all three points for his side in the dying embers, but his shot was either cleared off the line, or blocked by his own player.

Read the original

People in this story

Related