Leeds United booked their place in the FA Cup fifth round following a 1-1 draw and penalty-shootout victory at Birmingham City. Lukas Nmecha scored the Whites’ only goal in normal time but a perfect spot-kick showing got the Premier League team’s job done.
A much-changed Leeds side rode their luck in the first half before going ahead early in the second, Nmecha arrowing a finish in at Ryan Allsop’s near-post against the run of play. Birmingham kept up the pressure and got their reward late on, however, through substitute Patrick Roberts’ late deflected strike.
The game became stretched in added-time as both teams tired and neither were able to grab a winner, with chances wasted at either end. Leeds then scored four penalties from four as misses from Tommy Doyle and Roberts allowed Sean Longstaff to send his side into the FA Cup fifth round.
YEP chief football writer Graham Smyth was at St Andrew’s to watch the action. Here are his Leeds United player ratings...
7 - A bit flappy at a corner and his kicking was poor but pulled out one terrific save and a couple of solid ones. Beaten by the deflection. One great save in the shootout.
1. GK: Lucas Perri
7 - A bit flappy at a corner and his kicking was poor but pulled out one terrific save and a couple of solid ones. Beaten by the deflection. One great save in the shootout. | Getty Images
6 - Solid enough prior to Osman's introduction. Came under real pressure and couldn't completely contain the winger. Competed well in the air. Unlucky with the deflection for the equaliser.
2. RB: James Justin
6 - Solid enough prior to Osman's introduction. Came under real pressure and couldn't completely contain the winger. Competed well in the air. Unlucky with the deflection for the equaliser. | Getty Images
7 -Another who didn't have it easy but he dealt well with the challenge for the most part. Couldn't get much going in an offensive sense but kept going, was still sprinting deep into extra-time.
3. LB: Gabriel Gudmundsson
7 -Another who didn't have it easy but he dealt well with the challenge for the most part. Couldn't get much going in an offensive sense but kept going, was still sprinting deep into extra-time. | Getty Images
8 - Won so many headers and defended with physicality. Presented a threat from set-pieces.
4. CB: Jaka Bijol
8 - Won so many headers and defended with physicality. Presented a threat from set-pieces. | Getty Images
6 - Recovered from a poor first half, was more steady after the break. Withdrawn for extra-time.
5. CB: Sebastiaan Bornauw
6 - Recovered from a poor first half, was more steady after the break. Withdrawn for extra-time. | Getty Images
5 - Leeds needed him to be a dominant presence in the middle but he didn't show his Premier League pedigree or nous. Good penalty at least.
6. CM: Sean Longstaff
5 - Leeds needed him to be a dominant presence in the middle but he didn't show his Premier League pedigree or nous. Good penalty at least. | Getty Images