Neil Redfearn has singled out one Leeds United player for special praise after the 3-1 win over Leicester City last night.
The Whites had looked out of ideas in the second half and were fortuitous not to find themselves more than one-goal down, but somehow went onto forge an incredible second half comeback.
Connor Roberts was the man who kicked it all off for Leeds before Archie Gray’s deflected striker then turned the game dramatically on its head just a few minutes later.
The icing was then put on the cake in stoppage time when Patrick Bamford diverted Dan James’ powerful free-kick into the net, helping Leeds to a ninth Championship win in a row.
However, speaking on BBC Radio Leeds, Ethan Ampadu was the man Redfearn wanted to praise. He believes Ampadu inspired the rest of his teammates with the way he continued to fight.
Redfearn hails Ampadu mentality
He said: “I look at Ethan Ampadu, tracking runners, getting his head on corners. He is not the biggest but inside him he is a 7ft guy because he fights and battles for everything that he’s got. Then type of people inspire you as a player, they make you want to go and win football matches.”
Georginio Rutter may have been awarded Sky Sports’ man of the match, but it was Ampadu who was really trying to grab the game by the scruff of the neck in the second half.
Leeds were too often playing it backwards and sideways and running into trouble, but Ampadu, and perhaps Glen Kamara, were the only players looking to move it forward.
With Liam Cooper on the bench and Pascal Struijk out injured, Amapdu has been given the armband in recent weeks. He certainly played with that level of responsibility last night.
He is becoming a real leader in this squad and his performance at Elland Road was a real showing of just how much he is thriving at the club.
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