Leeds United Jury: Positives to take as Whites more than match play-off rivals Villa

DAVID WATKINS

All of the YEP Jury went for a 2–1 Leeds United victory over Aston Villa this week and, but for fine margins, that might well have been the score.

In boxing parlance, Leeds had Villa on the ropes having taken a well-earned lead but shortly before half-time, to continue the analogy, we lost our left jab as Pablo Hernandez limped off.

Without Hernandez, Leeds were less potent and gradually Villa got a toe and then a foothold in the game and then took control with the arrival of Jack Grealish and Henri Lansbury from the bench.

Leeds had chances to deliver a knock-out blow but Lady Luck deserted us.

Captain Liam Cooper was inches offside as he buried a fine header and Gjanni Alioski, Caleb Ekuban and Kemar Roofe were inches from converting a Samuel Saiz cross. Fine margins!

A point against Villa is not to be sniffed at and if Leeds can secure some decent points from the next five games we’ll be in good shape at the turn of the year.

Man of the match: Pontus Jansson.

MATTHEW EVANS

Aside from the three that Derby took away on Halloween, this was the most underserved point that an away team has taken from Elland Road this season.

In truth, United should have made their first-half dominance pay and nobody would have argued if the half time scoreline had been 2-0. Ronaldo Vieira and Kalvin Phillips were excellent in midfield and stopped nearly everything. Anything that did get through was swept up comfortably by Pontus Jansson and Liam Cooper.

Our second-half performance was far less accomplished and not helped by the departure of Pablo Hernandez who had been the stand-out performer in a hard working front four. None of this meant that conceding an equaliser was any easier and Villa will have been much the happier of the two sides.

Man of the match: Pontus Jansson

KEITH INGHAM

Leeds’ mini revival continued with a entertaining 1-1 draw with Aston Villa, the result keeps them in the hunt for a top-six place before Christmas.

Leeds were very quick out of the blocks with Pablo Hernandez and Ronaldo Vieira commanding the midfield and it was the Spanish midfielder that provided a superb corner that Pontus Jansson headed powerfully past Sam Johnstone in the Villa goal. Liam Cooper then headed in Kemar Roofe’s free-kick, unfortunately it was ruled offside and replays showed the decision was correct.

Villa introduced Jack Grealish and Henri Lansbury just after the hour and it was Lansbury who levelled matters with under 20 minutes to play. Neither side could get the winner and a draw was a fair result.

A month ago, Leeds would have probably lost this game, but importantly the ‘mojo’ seems back in a few players that struggled in the run of eight defeats in 11 games.

Jansson, Cooper and Hernandez stood out but the best player for Leeds was Vieira, outstanding in midfield.

Man of the match: Ronaldo Vieira.

MIKE GILL

In the end a draw against Aston Villa was a fair result but what might have been?

The big positive is that Leeds hung on and avoided a reprise of the Derby match.

Had Gjanni Alioski, Caleb Ekuban or Kemar Roofe connected with Samuel Saiz’s cross, had Liam Cooper’s effort been onside; then it would have been a different story.

Despite the fact that the Whites faded a bit in the second half, I feel that this game has produced a lot of positives.

Pontus Jansson is gradually returning to something like his best form and his goal will only help by adding to his confidence.

Henri Lansbury’s goal was unstoppable but on another day would have gone past the wrong side of the post.

Ronaldo Vieira was absolutely immense, combining with Kalvin Phillips to boss the midfield.

Gaetano Berardi contained Robert Snodgrass for most of the match and Ekuban put in another good performance. The glass ended up half full in my opinion.

Man of the match: Ronaldo Vieira.

GARY NEWBOULD

Leeds United added another point to their Championship tally with a hard earned draw against in form Aston Villa at Elland Road on Friday evening.

Straight from the off United were on the front foot, spurred on by a fantastic Friday night crowd in excess of 30,000. The home side out thought and out fought their fellow promotion protagonists who were made to look rather ordinary and it was no surprise that the Whites took the lead on 19 minutes. A Pablo Hernandez corner was despatched home by Pontus Jansson for the Swede’s first goal of the season.

Prior to half-time United lost Pablo Hernandez through injury which had an effect on their dominance.

The second half saw a Villa reaction with the visitors having much more possession and looking far more threatening. However on the hour mark a superb ball from Samuel Saiz created a great chance which was not converted which would ultimately cost United two points.

On 71 minutes Villa levelled through Henri Lansbury to ensure a share of the spoils.

Man of the match: Ronaldo Vieira.