Leeds United 1 Sheffield United 2: Lonergan and Saiz head and shoulders above the rest - Player Ratings
But how did the YEP’s Phil Hay rate the performances?
Andy Lonergan - The only reason why Leeds were in the game at half-time. His two saves from Sharp were fantastic. 8/10
Luke Ayling - Off the boil in a big way, losing the ball too often and straying out of position. Was a long way from home when Brooks claimed the win. 5/10
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdMatthew Pennington - Nervous and unsteady from the moment he failed to stay with Sharp in the second minute. Gives Christiansen a headache, and not in a good way. 4/10
Liam Cooper - The was no grit or communication in the backline before the break and Sharp should have had a hat-trick. Went off injured. 5/10
Vurnon Anita - Still doesn’t look like a satisfactory answer at left-back and this is a position which Leeds might need to address in the January window. 5/10
Ronaldo Vieira - Dynamite at Ashton Gate but far less combustible last night and too often found himself chasing Sheffield United’s midfield. 5/10
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdEunan O’Kane - Finally got into the mode of dictating play after half-time but not for the first time, United’s midfield were weak. A lack of movement up front didn’t help. 5/10
Gjanni Alioski - Can’t seem to get himself going again after an excellent first month. Finished weakly from a header which, despite the balance of the night, could have won the game. 5/10
Kalvin Phillips - A peach of a finish, produced from nothing, and a better second half but that can’t obscure the fact that Sheffield United were a class apart in periods. Also lucky to dodge a red card. 6/10
Samuel Saiz - Hit the post and did everything he could to force a win after half-time. The one player who Sheffield United struggled to contain. 7/10
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdPierre-Michel Lasogga - Not the impact Leeds needed from their centre-forward. The service was poor but so were his levels of involvement. 4/10
Substitutes:
Pontus Jansson (for Cooper, 57) - Swept up time and again until the defence suddenly went to pieces in the build-up to Brooks’ goal. 6/10
Pablo Hernandez (for Alioski, 70) - Got on the ball but couldn’t do anything with it. 5/10
Jay-Roy Grot (for Aninta, 83) - Hasn’t often looked like scoring during his time on the pitch and didn’t look like scoring. 5/10
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdSubs (not used): Felix Wiedwald, Conor Shaughnessy, Kemar Roofe, Stuart Dallas.
Referee: Scott Duncan (Northumberland) - Some very questionable decisions when it came to handing out cards. 4/10
Attendance: 34,504