Leeds United 2-0 Crystal Palace - Stuart Dallas' price tag, Gary Cahill's nightmare and Whites youngster's remarkable stat

This season in the Premier League Leeds United have rarely looked as comfortable as they did at home to Crystal Palace.
BIG CHANCE - Pascal Struijk could have had a hat-trick against Crystal Palace, but goals will come for the Leeds United youngster. Pic: Bruce RollinsonBIG CHANCE - Pascal Struijk could have had a hat-trick against Crystal Palace, but goals will come for the Leeds United youngster. Pic: Bruce Rollinson
BIG CHANCE - Pascal Struijk could have had a hat-trick against Crystal Palace, but goals will come for the Leeds United youngster. Pic: Bruce Rollinson

An early goal is always a good thing for a team wanting to play attacking football, against a team wanting to sit deep and use the counter attack.

Jack Harrison's opener spelled disaster for Palace because their own attack was largely toothless and once Leeds had the two goal lead early in the second half it was game over.

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The keys to victory, for Leeds, were the way they passed the ball around in the Palace half, with pace and accuracy, and the intensity of their press out of possession. So often Palace were unable to build anything in the way of momentum because Leeds gave them no time on the ball.

There were plenty of fine individual performances from the Whites but for some Eagles, it was a night to forget.

Good day

Stuart Dallas

Dallas hasn't always enjoyed such acclaim as a midfielder. There have were times when Marcelo Bielsa was happy to use the Northern Irishman in the centre of the park, but it just didn't look quite right. In the Premier League, especially of late, Dallas has looked right at home and Leeds have looked just fine. He was everywhere last night, linking the play, finding enough space to get a pass away and when the ball was with the visitors, being a nuisance. All the talk at present is about Raphinha and what price he would attract in the transfer market, but consider Dallas' worth to Leeds. Could you even put a price on a player who can more than do a job at right wing, right-back, left-back and central midfield?

Bad day

Gary Cahill

The vastly experienced central defender found himself playing a reluctant part in a viral clip from last night's game. Raphinha's turn, flick and nutmeg were so smooth and seamless that Cahill was utterly bamboozled and left for dead. All he could do was drag the Brazilian to the ground, hope that he had managed to do so outside the area and accept a yellow card. Having already watched Jack Harrison's shot deflect off him and into the Palace net and having been robbed on halfway by Patrick Bamford in what should have been the moment leading to Leeds' second, Cahill could have done without being made the victim of an impudent and outrageous piece of skill. It didn't get much better, either. He was powerless to stop Raphinha going in alone or prevent Bamford from sidefooting in the rebound from the winger's initial shot, when Leeds did go 2-0 up. Add to all of that the number of headers Leeds won in central areas of Palace's box and the pressure put on the visiting back line by the Leeds press and it was a nightmare of an evening for the centre-half.

Number of the day

3

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Pascal Struijk, Leeds United's 21-year-old centre-half, could and probably should have had a hat-trick. His expected goals for the 90 minutes was 1.3, which is remarkable for a player in his position. Having come close to scoring against Leicester City he came closer against Palace with three headed chances. The finishing might need some work but the youngster is making a nice habit of getting in the right positions. With his height and aerial ability you would expect him to pose a threat from set-pieces and if he carries on causing problems for defenders, goals will come - particularly with the quality of Raphinha's deliveries.

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