A win at last, and one that has been coming under Paul Heckingbottom. A dogged first-half was tough but we limited Brentford to long-range efforts, the stand out one was wonderfully saved by Felix Wiedwald. A goal got us in front and in the second half we upped it again, controlling most of the game and had two or three very good chances to put the game to bed, Brentford hardly having a shot of note.
Ratings
Felix Wiedwald – 7 – Football is a strange game. Before kick-off I was ready to see him dropped and after the game I’m left applauding his character and performance. A wonderful save in the first-half kept the scores level and he spoke, and collected what he needed to.
Gaetano Berardi – 7 – Nothing can be said of the defence today who were solid against a Brentford side who seemed to have everything, but we stood up and shut them out. Berardi faced both Ollie Watkins and Sergi Canos, and sent them both packing.
Pontus Jansson – 8 – Two games on the bounce he has been determined and today his partner showed up which meant clean sheet.
Liam Cooper – 8 – I’ll stand by it now, long-term he won’t get us where we need to go because of inconsistency and mistakes but he has these games in him. Impressive, calm and solid. Took his goal very well and was a rock alongside Jansson.
Vurnon Anita – 7 – I thought it was very harsh to drop Anita in midweek but we have learned early that Heckingbottom can be ruthless in his selections, something we have been craving at this football club. Anita didn’t put a foot wrong today. Always seemed to get a toe on the ball if someone was in behind.
Stuart Dallas – 7 – The game-changing moment was a tactical decision to switch Dallas and Alioksi around. Dallas went down the left and was fouled. Worked so hard and had no legs when he was subbed off to a standing ovation. One of the best players on the park.
Eunan O’Kane – 6 – A strange game for the central midfielders because the first-half we were wasteful and ran ragged by the Brentford midfielders but in the second we pulled it together and O’Kane stepped it up. I can’t give him more than a 6 because of the first-half, he gave the ball away countless times.
Kalvin Phillips – 7 – what Kalvin Phillips did today was put in a hefty tackle on a player who was running the game, before adding a few more to that in key areas at key times. Not effective on the ball, he never will be the best in that area but the crunching tackle on Woods that left him in a heap changed the game for the Bees, because he didn’t influence the game after that.
Gjanni Alioksi – 8 – #PASMOM – The best overall performance I’ve seen from Alioksi since the start of the season. The most impressive thing today was his aggression and desire. I have never accused him of lacking effort but today there was an edge to his game. Great cross for the goal, strong on the ball and aggressive off it. More, we want this every week.
Samu Saiz – 8 – The whole place is lifted when he gets the ball. Something I haven’t seen from him at Leeds is work-rate going backwards, today we did. Unlucky not to create two goals for Lasogga. Ref had a disaster as Lasogga was put through one-on-one.
Pierre-Michel Lasogga – 6 – Didn’t really get the chances today but just as he was heading off the worst call I’ve seen from a ref in a long time cost him his chance. Fans are fully on side, chanting his name as he left the park which tells you the swing in his form.
Subs
Caleb Ekuban – 6 – Gave Brentford no time on the ball but didn’t really influence the attacking threat. Defend from the front, it was a good call.
Hadi Sacko – 6 – Didn’t do loads but worked hard both ways and won a couple of corners when we were on the counter attack.
Ronaldo Vieira – N/A
