Javi Gracia has shared his verdict on the performances of both Luis Sinisterra and Patrick Bamford after Leeds United’s win over Nottingham Forest on Tuesday.
Leeds are back out of the relegation zone. And they did it in some style. The Whites took advantage of Forest enduring an utterly miserable display on the road once again this season.
It was Luis Sinisterra and Jack Harrison who scored the two goals as Leeds came from behind to win. And there were so many contenders for the man of the match award.
Marc Roca was immense in the middle of the park. Some of his passing was simply a joke. And Weston McKennie had his best game for Leeds, by some distance.
Pascal Struijk was a monster at centre-back. And Harrison arguably evoked memories of Raphinha with how he took charge of the game when Leeds needed him.
Gracia praises Sinisterra and Bamford
But Sinisterra and Patrick Bamford also proved a point. Bamford was rusty at times. But he gave Forest’s centre-backs a really torrid time. And Sinisterra had one of his best games since his summer switch.
Certainly, Javi Gracia was impressed by both, as well as several of their teammates.
“You have seen Luis and Patrick play before. They were outstanding,” he said, as reported by Leeds Live. “Not only these two. If we are speaking about all of them, the defenders did an amazing job.
“Time we were attacking, they were paying attention, controlling their players out there and you know how difficult it is to concentrate during all the game. We were focused on defending and we should have killed the game before.”
Of course, it is hard to not get carried away. We probably need to remind ourselves that Forest were probably the worst side to come to Elland Road this season. And we could be back in the bottom three just as quickly if results go against us.
But the pressure was on on Tuesday. Under Jesse Marsch, we may have thrown that game away, just as we did at the City Ground.
But Javi has a plan. And it is getting harder to keep count of the numbers of players who have improved under the Spaniard.
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