Leeds United returned to the top of the Championship table with an impressive 3-1 win over in-form Middlesbrough at Elland Road. Here are our player ratings.
Illan Meslier – 7
Some shoddy pieces of distribution in the first half but made a massive one-on-one save from Ben Doak with the score at 1-1.
Sam Byram – 7
Timely return to the side amid Jayden Bogle’s injury and always looks more comfortable playing down that side. Inch perfect pass down the line for Dan James in the build up to Wilfried Gnonto’s opener.
Joe Rodon – 7
Perhaps a tad fortunate not to concede a first half penalty but really was everywhere in terms of blocks and coming up with those timely interventions.
Pascal Struijk – 6
One or two shaky moments means he scores slightly lower than his centre-back partner Rodon but all in all, pretty solid up against one of the Championship’s best strikers.
Wilfried Gnonto of Leeds United celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammates Mateo Joseph and Daniel James of Leeds United during the Sk...
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
Max Wober – 6
Got forward whenever he could down that left-hand-side without quite having the cross or end product of Junior Firpo. Got nice and tight to dangerman Ben Doak, though did get caught out of position a couple of times. Tad unlucky with the own goal.
Ao Tanaka – 8
8/10s are just standard procedure for Tanaka now. Once again like a magnet to those loose balls in the middle of the park, and tidy – in the main – in possession. Unselfish to square it to Aaronson at the end.
Joe Rothwell – 7
Another really good performance from Rothwell and he just continues to make life even harder for Farke when it comes to recalling Ethan Ampadu. His long passes were catching out Boro’s high backline.
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Dan James – 8
After a pretty quiet afternoon against Derby County, James was back to his best this evening. Really good ball for the goal, and should’ve had an assist after a lovely bit of play in the first half. Then netted with an emphatic finish after missing a golden chance moments earlier.
Brenden Aaronson – 7
Undoubtedly Aaronson’s best game in a while, perhaps benefitting from a side not just sitting back and defending deep. Some really nice turns inside the area early on, but could’ve done better with the chance he had late in the first half. Rounded off his performance with a goal.
Wilfried Gnonto – 7
Gnonto looked somewhat closer to the form he was producing before the October international break and was in the right place at the right time to bundle in Leeds’ opener.
Mateo Joseph – 6
He really gave Leeds the platform needed to dominate things early on and you have to feel his run for that Gnonto opener would not have been made by Joel Piroe. However, he should’ve busted a gut a few minutes later to get on the end of James’ ball across the six-yard-box. Tired second half.
Subs
Joel Piroe – 6
Used as an impact sub and that’s what he did with the assist for James’ goal.
Manor Solomon – n/a
Didn’t see much ball but tidy enough when he did get it.
Ethan Ampadu – n/a
Came on at right-back, good to see him back.
Josuha Guilavogi
Isaac Schmidt – n/a
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