No Chris Wood tonight as the striker said he didn’t want to play due to interest from the Premier League. Burnley expect Wood to sign for a fee upwards of £15 million and expect it to be done by Monday, with his medical due in Burnley tomorrow. Thomas Christiansen has said he doesn’t want to be here, so he doesn’t want him and Leeds put in their best performance of the season despite all this, a brilliant 0-2 win at Sunderland.
Player Ratings
Felix Wiedwald – 6 – Didn’t have much to do at all. One shot went past him and Liam Cooper was on the line to head it onto the crossbar. Distribution was good, he’s had a very steady start to life at Leeds, Fulham his best performance.
Luke Ayling – 8 – Quality tonight up against arguably the best winger in the league. Aiden McGeady barely got a sniff tonight and Ayling forced him into mistakes and poor balls into the box. Calm on the ball and linked up well with those in front of him. Very impressive.
Pontus Jansson – 8 – Jansson was back to his best tonight, optimised by his headed clearance and then celebration towards the end. Really strong alongside Cooper and dealt with Grabban and Vaughen who have been a handful this season. We haven’t conceded a goal with Jansson on the park this season…
Liam Cooper – 8 – Cooper has played very well every time he’s played this season. He’s the captain and has grown into the role by the looks of it. I’m still not convinced he can do it for a full season but the improvement has been night and day so far. I hold my hands up for the time being.
Vurnon Anita – 8- Brilliant defensively but not as powerful going forward as Luke Ayling. Didn’t put a foot wrong tonight and well worth his place despite the pressure from Cameron Borthwick-Jackson. Playing on the wrong side of then defence, but did very well.
Kalvin Phillips – 8 – Best game of the season so far. He did well at Bolton but tonight he was in the faces of an aggressive and experienced Sunderland midfield and he was first to every ball, and apart from one tackle he was forceful and good on the ball. Needs to be playing like this every game and not just one every three.
Eunan O’Kane – 8 – 8’s all round at the moment. O’Kane is the most consistent player wearing a Leeds shirt at the moment. His confidence is growing and he has become a key cog in the Leeds United engine room under Thomas Christiansen.
Ezgjan Alioski – 9 – I thought he had his best game in a Leeds shirt by a country mile. He’s been very poor the last couple of games but really influenced the game tonight and with some more time under his belt he will be able to take advantage of the situations he creates for himself.
Samu Saiz – 9 – Brilliant showing from Saiz who pulled all the strings for Leeds tonight. Found room all over the park and Sunderland couldn’t cope in the slightest. His goal was lovely and his assist just as good. Such an important player for us, especially now Chris Wood is set to depart. The main man in the side. #PAS MOM
Pablo Hernandez – N/A – Went off injured, hadn’t really influenced the game before that.
Caleb Ekuban – 8 – Really impressed with a player who hadn’t had a single minute in the league before tonight. Hopefully the injury isn’t bad because he showed some lovely link-up play and movement throughout the game. Grafted from the start and didn’t give the defence a minute’s rest.
Subs
Kemar Roofe – 7 – Moved into the strikers role and did his best, ran hard and did attack players.
Stuart Dallas – 7 – Very quiet but got a crucial goal, has to be starting the next league game, deserves it.
