Leeds United held on to a relentless 1-0 Premier League win over Burnley at Elland Road on Sunday afternoon.
Patrick Bamford, lined up against a club where, as he put it: ‘I was unlucky’, opened the scoring for Leeds with a penalty kick in the opening five minutes. Despite an unusually lax defensive display, Burnley may have felt tough entering the break behind 1-0 after Ashley Barnes was denied a goal following a questionable foul on Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier.
It was impossible for Patrick Bamford to refuse to score again! ?#LEEBUR pic.twitter.com/vND7bj9DOE
– 90min (at 90min_Football) December 27, 2020
Burnley upped the second-half stake a lot, shutting down Leeds with the intensity their hosts are known for in the home side’s third defense. Still, the Clarets couldn’t seize any of the half-chances they carved out for themselves, ending their four-game unbeaten streak.
Illan Meslier (GK) – 6/10 – His redness had been spared in the first period thanks to a dubious free kick given in his favor after having reversed a hold. Not the first or the last time, he would fail to instill confidence in his handling. Still made six impressive saves.
Luke Ayling (CB) – 7/10 – Made a long incisive and arrow pass for the Bamford opening. Sneakily positioned himself so as not to win the overhead ball, then pushed his more gifted marker back vertically.
Kalvin Phillips (CB) – 8/10 – Constantly looking to receive an assist as a center-back while appearing with a handful of decisive headers.
Pascal Struijk (CB) – 7/10 – With the unenviable task of replacing club captain and defensive leader Liam Cooper, Struijk has rarely been surprised.
Stuart Dallas (RWB) – 7/10 – Obviously, Dallas’ versatility has no limits. After having admirably occupied the position of winger, the Northern Ireland international entered, always more effectively, in the midfield.
Mateusz Klich (CM) – 5/10 – Peppered a disappointing display with a number of wild and ambitious range efforts.
Rodrigo (CM) – 6/10 – Pushed forward with vigor and enthusiasm for the attack going through this side of Leeds without really applying the final blow or pass.
Ezgjan Alioski (LWB) – 6/10 – Tirelessly charged from top to bottom on the left flank but lacked composure in the final third.
15 – Patrick Bamford has scored 10 goals in 15 appearances for Leeds in the Premier League this season; the third fewest appearances to reach 10 in the competition for Whites, after Mark Viduka (9) and Tony Yeboah (14). Split. pic.twitter.com/GMYbT8Mny7
– OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 27, 2020
Raphinha (RW) – 6/10 – Created a host of chances for his teammates that weren’t taken, floating to the right to wreak havoc between Burnley’s midfield and defense lines.
Patrick Bamford (ST) – 6/10 – He firmly converted the penalty he won himself, but slashed an isolated number for much of the game.
Jack Harrison (LW) – 5/10 – Spoiled an extremely presentable opportunity from inside the penalty area in the first half when Leeds were on top.
59 ‘First #LUFC substitution. Rodrigo is replaced by Hernandez. 1-0 pic.twitter.com/QpLxer31PM
– Leeds United (@LUFC) December 27, 2020
Pablo Hernandez (CM) – 6/10
Jamie Shackleton (RWB) – 6/10
Ian Poveda (RW) – 6/10
Nick Pope (GK) – 5/10 – Awkwardly shot Bamford for the kick, but went about his other business quietly.
Matthew Lowton (RB) – 5/10 – Not often invoked from the rear but hardly a threat to the future.
James Tarkowski (CB) – 4/10 – Too easily separated by a single long ball for Leeds’ opening goal.
Ben Mee (CB) – 5/10 – Burnley’s captain’s unusually sloppy play didn’t end with the opening goal but didn’t return after the interval.
Charlie Taylor (LB) – 5/10 – Desperately struggled to contain Raphinha throughout the match.
Josh Benson (RM) – 4/10 – In his second Premier League appearance which lasted more than five minutes, Benson did not exert any real influence on the proceedings.
Ashley Westwood (CM) – 7/10 – Always a threat with his evil crosses from the outside – including an eye-catching rabona cross that narrowly missed its mark.
Josh Brownhill (CM) – 6/10 – Like most Burnley players, Brownhill was much more proactive after the interval, dutifully harassing his counterpart in white.
Erik Pieters (LM) – 5/10 – Against the team that had conceded the most set pieces in the division, Pieters’ deliveries couldn’t reveal this well-established flaw.
Chris Wood (ST) – 5/10 – Missed a golden chance in the first half and failed to capitalize on the flurry of crosses that were inevitably directed at him in the second half.
Ashley Barnes (ST) – 5/10 – Had the ball in the back of the net in the 18th minute, but he turned down the chance to double his seasonal tally by a questionable decision from the referee.
74 ‘Double change for Burnley, Pieters and Benson give way to Rodriguez and Stephens. 1-0
? ️- https://t.co/R0gUwYlt3N#LEEBUR | #UTC pic.twitter.com/XVWEUZu22Q
– Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) December 27, 2020
Jay Rodriguez (RM) – 5/10
Dale Stephens (CM) – 5/10
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