YEP Jury: Leeds United full value for their battling point against Chelsea

Our panel of fans have their say on Leeds United’s hard-fought goalless draw with Chelsea on Saturday.
STRONG SHOWING: Tyler Roberts on the run against Chelsea. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.STRONG SHOWING: Tyler Roberts on the run against Chelsea. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.
STRONG SHOWING: Tyler Roberts on the run against Chelsea. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.

DAVID WATKINS

I thought that was a magnificent performance from Leeds – full of the grit and determination and concentration that we will need in the upcoming games, all of which look to have their different challenges.

The first 20 minutes was a whirlwind, and that is not a reference to the wind swirling around the stadium or the biblical deluge that came later! Both sides really went for it, like two heavyweight boxers determined to finish the fight in the first round and, for once, chances and luck fell evenly.

WATCHING BRIEF: Marcelo Bielsa on the sidelines. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.WATCHING BRIEF: Marcelo Bielsa on the sidelines. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.
WATCHING BRIEF: Marcelo Bielsa on the sidelines. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.
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Leeds saw a ‘goal’ chalked off for another marginal offside call and then a beautiful ‘blind’ shot from Tyler Roberts was only denied by the merest fingernail of Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy.

At the other end, Leeds were fortunate when Luke Ayling whacked a clearance against Diego Llorente only to see it cannon back to strike our own crossbar and down into the grateful arms of Illan Meslier. After that initial 20 minutes there was nothing much between the sides.

Man of the match: Tyler Roberts.

JACOB STARR

OFF-SIDE: Tyler Roberts scores but his 'goal' was ruled out for offside. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.OFF-SIDE: Tyler Roberts scores but his 'goal' was ruled out for offside. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.
OFF-SIDE: Tyler Roberts scores but his 'goal' was ruled out for offside. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.

I thought it would be a low-scoring affair, but blimey, I didn’t envision a goalless draw!

An assured defensive performance against a quality Chelsea side, and on another day either side could have come away with a victory.

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Draws are hard to come by for Leeds, but it was probably a fair result with both teams having small spells here and there.

The crossbar was struck at each end, whilst both goalkeepers were forced into action, so those claiming it was two points dropped for the Blues may want to have a rethink.

TOUGH DAY: Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel.
 Picture: Bruce Rollinson.TOUGH DAY: Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel.
 Picture: Bruce Rollinson.
TOUGH DAY: Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.

The deserved point did come at a cost for the Whites though, with Patrick Bamford being forced off during the first half with a knock. Fingers crossed he won’t have to face a spell on the sidelines.

Diego Llorente and Pascal Struijk made up the 13th centre-back combination of the campaign, although their confident display didn’t make it seem like it was a new partnership.

A well-earned ninth clean sheet of the season.

Man of the match: Diego Llorente.

GOOD POINT: Helder Costa and Raphinha embrace at full time. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.GOOD POINT: Helder Costa and Raphinha embrace at full time. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.
GOOD POINT: Helder Costa and Raphinha embrace at full time. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.

MATTHEW EVANS

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In the end Chelsea appeared pretty toothless at Elland Road but, at the same time, were impressively sharp and put in one of the most consistent pressing displays we’ve seen against us this season.

Leeds didn’t properly get into the game and it was unusual for a Bielsa performance with so little of the ball but that didn’t stop us creating chances and we showed resilience in defence where we needed to.

The TV commentary team giving Tyler Roberts the man-of-the-match award will have gone down like a lead balloon with the critics but he did have a very good game along with the central defenders and Kalvin Phillips.

It remains to be seen how bad Patrick Bamford’s injury is and we did miss him when he went off but, all things said and done, this was a good result after a good performance against a good side.

Man of the match: Kalvin Phillips.

KEITH INGHAM

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After a brave and battling performance Leeds drew 0-0 with Chelsea.

The match might not have been a classic but it had enough in it to keep fans on the edge of their seats from the first minute to the 93rd. Chelsea had the excellent Mendy in goal to thank for them leaving Elland Road with a point.

The hosts were a little lucky when a deflection hit Llorente and onto the bar, but then into the arms of Meslier. Chelsea had opportunities to score but Meslier was again on hand to save his team-mates when called upon.

Leeds lost top scorer Patrick Bamford to injury, Rodrigo replaced him, leading the line.

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The best of Mendy was seen when Roberts turned outside the area and sent a clever chip towards the goal.

The Chelsea keeper used every inch of his six foot four frame and fingertips to touch the ball onto the bar and it bounced to safety.

The second half followed the same pattern as the first with Chelsea having most of the ball as Leeds fought for every ball.

Raphinha had United’s best effort on goal but after going one way, Mendy stretched out a hand to save the winger’s goal-bound effort.

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Rodrigo should have put Leeds ahead, unmarked in the centre of the area but he tamely headed an effort straight at Mendy.

Strangely after his chance, substitute Rodrigo was substituted for Mateusz Klich and Helder Costa replaced Harrison as Bielsa sought out the winner.

Chelsea also made changes but neither team could claim a winner.

Man of the match: Tyler Roberts.

MIKE GILL

Leeds played out a well deserved 0-0 draw with moneybags Chelsea.

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Few gave United a chance but despite the absence of Liam Cooper, they looked really solid at the back, particularly at set pieces. Only Gjanni Alioski struggled but Illan Meslier came in from some unwarranted criticism from Rio Ferdinand before the game. The ex-Leeds man sought to assert that the young Frenchman was naive and not commanding enough.

Meslier went on to prove him wrong with a sound performance. At the other end, Edouard Mendy was even better but only because the quality of United’s attempts on goal were superior to those of Chelsea.

So this was a rare goalless draw but a strangely satisfying result for United because the Blues don’t let many goals in.

Tyler Roberts and Raphinha came the closest to scoring for the Whites after Roberts had an early effort disallowed for offside. Before the match a lot of fans wanted Rodrigo to start but Roberts justified his selection and ended up as BT Sport’s man of the match.

Man of the match: Luke Ayling.

ANDY RHODES

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On paper, this was a game where many fans would have taken a point. The pre-match form of Leeds and Chelsea couldn’t have been more different and after just two draws all season, the form book was ripped up.

Leeds were resolute at the back and looked good value for their clean sheet. Chelsea, meanwhile, looked somewhat blunt going forward and lacked the cutting edge that’s seemingly been missing all season.

Without a focal point up front, Pascal Struijk and Diego Llorente were able to control the game, while Illan Meslier’s catalogue of saves shouldn’t go unnoticed.

Leeds threatened to win the game themselves, most notably in the first half. Tyler Roberts was unlucky not to score. His stock is rising week by week, while Luke Ayling had another good game in defence.

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This was the defensively solid performance Leeds have shown all too rarely this season. On another day this game could have gone either way, but the clean sheet against a seasoned opponent will give them confidence.

Man of the match: Diego Llorente.

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