Matt Kilgallon has praised Charlie Cresswell after the centre-back played the majority of the second-half in Leeds United’s opening game of the new Championship season.
Kilgallon was speaking on BBC Radio Leeds as Daniel Farke’s side came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Cardiff City at Elland Road. Crysencio Summerville found the bottom corner in the 95th minute to send the ground into a frenzy.
Leeds were grateful to their captain for getting them back into the game, with Liam Cooper halving the deficit early in the second-half with a towering header. Unfortunately, the skipper picked up an injury as he seemingly landed awkwardly and needed to be stretchered off the pitch.
Kilgallon lauds Cresswell as Leeds draw
That presented Charlie Cresswell with a chance to impress as he came on alongside Pascal Struijk. Leeds were rarely troubled at the back during the second-half. But Cresswell was one of those who helped push the visitors back.
He was confident in possession. Not always was he able to use the ball wisely, but he did not look out of place at this level.
And Kilgallon suggested that he was very impressed by the 20-year-old’s contribution in the dramatic draw.
“When Cresswell came on, I thought he looked good,” he told BBC Radio Leeds. “He won his headers. And I liked the way he drove with the ball and almost pulled the midfielder out so they had to come out to Cresswell driving with the ball. And then that made a little path and a bit more space behind.”
Hopefully there is good news on Cooper’s condition in the coming days. But it is really hard to imagine that he will be back available anytime soon.
Leeds need to strengthen in the transfer market. But there is likely to be an opportunity for Cresswell to get a run of games under his belt following the departures of several centre-backs.
He is clearly not yet the finished article. His loan spell with Millwall had its ups and downs. But he has rarely let the Leeds side down when he has had an opportunity.
And he will take confidence from the way he played when Cooper came off when the pressure was on Leeds to take the game to Cardiff.
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