Dominic Matteo thinks one Leeds United player is really underrated even if he doesn’t contribute much to the team

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Saturday’s result was a blow for Leeds United but it remains a solid first half to the Championship season for Daniel Farke’s men, despite the loss to Blackburn Rovers.

Leeds remain in third after losing to John Eustace’s side. Eustace has now beaten Daniel Farke in all three meetings since Farke took over as Leeds manager, two with Blackburn and one with Birmingham City.

Todd Cantwell scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot after Ao Tanaka brought down Tyrhys Dolan in the first half. Farke’s former Norwich City star tucked the ball into the corner of the goal.

With Blackburn taking the lead, Rovers implemented a low block and other than Wilfried Gnonto’s big chance with the score at 0-0, Leeds failed to really carve out any big chances with many players failing.

• READ MORE: Daniel Farke says if Blackburn should have been reduced to 10 men

Dom Matteo thinks Joe Rothwell is underrated after Leeds form

However, Leeds are still third. The Whites are in exactly the same position as last season, with the same points – a total of 35. After 18 games in both seasons, Leeds have 10 wins, five draws, three losses.

Leeds have even scored the amount of goals as last season, with 31 – conceding five less. They remain within three of top, rather than eight behind last season’s leaders Leicester City at this point last term.

So, Saturday’s defeat was a blow but things remain positive and one big tick in Farke’s notebook this season has been the form of on-loan midfielder Joe Rothwell. Dom Matteo praised him before the game.

“The way them two [Ao Tanaka and Rothwell] players have played this season, tell you what, it is going to be difficult for the other two to get back in because at the moment, they’ve been Leeds’ best two players.

“Rothwell has gone under the radar, really clever player. He knows what he is doing. One of those players that doesn’t do too much, but what he does do he’s very good at it. He’s helped the defence at times.”

Joe Rothwell’s stats for Leeds United in loss to Blackburn Rovers

Rothwell came up against his old side and returned to Ewood Park for only a second time since leaving Rovers to join Bournemouth in the summer of 2022. But Rothwell struggled to have any kind of impact.

Joe Rothwell’s stats for Leeds in loss to Blackburn:

• FotMob rating of 6.9, 12 others were better
• XG+XA of 0.23, six others were better
• 0 successful dribbles, three attempted
• 71 touches, 49 successful passes from 52 (94%)
• Just three defensive actions, 14 had more
• One duel won, three lost

One thing that is becoming clear with Rothwell, is that during games where Leeds are in control, the on-loan ace is immense. His passing, his precision, his ability to dictate the tempo in midfield is sensational.

But when it is a battle, when midfielders are in his face and Leeds are struggling to control the game, he struggles to make much of an impact. Indeed, Rothwell is not one to dive into tackles and win duels.