Leeds United were only minutes away from a famous away win on Saturday, but had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa at Villa Park.
It was still a strong result for Daniel Farke’s men, who have now lost just two of their last 14 Premier League games.
Leeds looked solid, brave, and well organised for most of the match. They even took the lead thanks to a stunning free-kick from Anton Stach. But late pressure from Villa saw Tammy Abraham grab an equaliser.
In the end, Leeds held on for a good point away from home.
Below are the full player ratings from the game.
GK: Karl Darlow: 8/10
Karl Darlow had a very good game between the posts. He could do nothing about the Villa goal late on.
Before that, he made some strong saves and showed calm under pressure.
In the first half, he came up big with an important stop that kept Leeds level. He commanded his box well and looked confident.
He deserved a clean sheet, but it was not to be.
RWB: Jayden Bogle: 7/10
Jayden Bogle worked hard down the right side. In the first half, he defended well and made good runs forward.
In the second half, he made a couple of poor decisions as Villa pushed hard. Still, he gave everything for the team and stayed solid for most of the match.
CB: James Justin: 8/10
James Justin had an excellent game at centre-back. He read the game very well and made key interceptions.
He dealt with danger calmly and showed good positioning. At times, he was tested more in the second half, but overall, it was a strong display from him.
CB: Joe Rodon: 8/10
Joe Rodon was strong and brave at the back. He won many duels and threw his body in front of shots.
He was unlucky with the Villa goal as he just lost one key aerial battle in the box. Apart from that moment, he defended very well and showed real fight.
CB: Pascal Struijk: 8/10
Pascal Struijk was calm on the ball and strong in defence. In the first half, he passed nicely and helped Leeds build from the back.
There were a couple of small mistakes, but nothing major. He stayed focused and helped keep Villa quiet for long spells.
LWB: Gabriel Gudmundsson: 6/10
Gabriel Gudmundsson got into good areas and tried to help in the attack. He showed energy and effort.
However, his final ball was not always sharp. One misplaced pass led to a Villa corner. It was not his best game, but he worked hard for the team.
CM: Ethan Ampadu: 8/10
Ethan Ampadu put in a big shift in midfield. He battled hard, made smart passes, and defended strongly.
He gave everything and was key in stopping Villa attacks. He faded a bit late on, but his effort and commitment were clear to see.
CM: Ilia Gruev: 7/10
Ilia Gruev covered a lot of ground. He tried to break up play and keep things tidy in midfield.
As the game went on, Villa found more space, and he had a tougher time. He even took a yellow card for the team. Still, it was a decent performance.
CM: Anton Stach: 9/10
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Anton Stach was simply incredible. On his return from injury, he looked sharp, strong, and full of confidence.
His free-kick goal from long range was top-class. He worked hard in defence and looked dangerous going forward. He was the best player on the pitch and fully deserved his 9/10 rating.
CAM: Brenden Aaronson: 7/10
Brenden Aaronson worked hard and pressed well. He tried to support both attack and defence.
He ran into trouble a few times and did not always control his side fully. But his effort and work rate helped Leeds stay competitive.
ST: Dominic Calvert-Lewin: 6/10
Dominic Calvert-Lewin showed good effort and made strong runs. He helped in defence too when needed.
But he missed a couple of good chances, and his touch let him down at times. It was a frustrating day for him in front of the goal.
Sub: Jaka Bijol: 7/10
Jaka Bijol came on and added physical strength at the back. He defended strongly and was a bit unlucky to get booked.
He helped Leeds stay firm during heavy Villa pressure.
Sub: Lukas Nmecha: 7/10
Lukas Nmecha brought energy off the bench. He pressed well and tried to counter-attack when Leeds had the chance.
He gave away a late free-kick, which was risky, but overal,l he added fight and desire.
Sub: Sean Longstaff: 7/10
Sean Longstaff tried to push Leeds forward when he came on. He made forward runs and also tracked back well.
He helped Leeds get out of their half in tough moments.
Referee: Michael Oliver: 4/10
Michael Oliver did not impress many Leeds fans. He seemed to make too many small decisions to Villa.
Some calls frustrated the away side, especially late on when the pressure was high.
Strong Spirit from Leeds
Overall, it was a brave and disciplined display from Leeds. They defended deep in the second half but showed heart and fight.
A point away at Villa Park is never easy. Daniel Farke’s side will feel proud, even if they were close to all three points. If they keep playing with this spirit, more good results will come.
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