Leeds United withheld a second-half onslaught against Watford on Tuesday night to secure three points against Tom Cleverley’s side, and below are our player ratings from the 2-1 win.
Illan Meslier – 7
The Frenchman could do little about the goal, but he did make a couple of decent stops to keep The Hornets out. A brilliant tip round the post in the first half, and denying a Tom Ince free-kick in the second.
Jayden Bogle – 7
Solid defensively even if he did jump into tackles when given the chance. Hit the post in the second half even if he didn’t mean it, but most of Watford’s attacking threat came down the left. A threat in attack.
Joe Rodon – 6
A decent-enough performance but perhaps not as effective with his passing as we often see. The Wales ace was strong in the air, but his poor clearance, albeit instinctive, felt right to Kwadwo Baah to score.
Pascal Struijk – 5
Threw himself at a couple of Leeds corners but Struijk was at fault for Watford’s goal, out of position and done easily down Leeds’ left by Kwadwo Baah before the Watford striker scored from close range.
Junior Firpo – 6
Got the assist for Leeds’ first goal but the former Barcelona defender will now miss the next game against Bristol City on the weekend for pulling back Festy Obesele when the Watford speedster went past him.
Ao Tanaka – 8.5
Typically hard-working in the middle of the park and perhaps slightly unlucky to receive a yellow. Tidy in possession and covered his full-backs well when out of position, brilliant tackle on 70 minutes in the box.
Joe Rothwell – 6
Having starred against Sunderland and then Sheffield United, Rothwell was sloppy in possession against Watford. Some easy, or key passes that the on-loan star normally gets right, perhaps a little jaded.
Wilfried Gnonto – 7.5 (replaced by Dan James on ’72 – 7)
Gnonto had his man turned inside out in the first half, and really should have scored once or twice with the Italy star going close on three occasions in the first 45. His cross saw Brenden Aaronson score.
Dan James came on to deliver a gorgeous ball into the box on 82 minutes, but Mateo Joseph could not convert – somehow. Great strike on 88 minutes that was tipped over the top by Bachmann.
Brenden Aaronson – 6.5
Neat finish for his third goal of the season and the eventual winner on the night but Aaronson, perhaps understandably, looked shattered. Drifted out of the game but kept on until injury time by Daniel Farke.
Largie Ramazani – 7 (Replaced by Manor Solomon on ’12 – 4) (Solomon replaced by Sam Byram ’96)
Ramazani scored his third goal of the season before being subbed due to an injury. Solomon replaced him, but the on-loan Tottenham star gave the ball away on numerous occasions and looked very rusty.
Joel Piroe – 5 (replaced by Mateo Joseph on ’72 – 5)
Quiet in the first half while holding it up well, Piroe had a couple of big chances in the second half but could not find the back of the net. One chance described as a “golden opportunity” by Lee Hendrie.
Joseph missed a sitter after a wonderful cross on 82 minutes. A guilt-edged header inside the six-yard box that Joseph only managed to cushion into Daniel Bachmann.
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