Leeds United left empty-handed after Man United defeat…

Leeds United left empty-handed after Man United defeat as pressure cranks up ahead of key week

Leeds United conceded two late goals to fall to a 2-0 defeat against Manchester United at Elland Road.

Here’s the winners and losers from the contest.

Winners

Luke Ayling

Buoyed by his superb performance at Old Trafford on Wednesday night, Ayling produced a man-of-the-match display against the Red Devils. He pocketed Marcus Rashford for much of the contest, restricting the England international to scraps of possession and he made his presence felt with one or two meaty tackles, befitting of the occasion.

He hardly put a foot wrong at the back and while he didn’t get forward with regularity, he provided a threat when he did. He even had the confidence to try an overhead kick in the second half as a corner dropped to him on the corner of the six-yard box.

Ayling has had an outstanding week in a Leeds shirt and the Whites need him to continue showing such character in the weeks and months ahead.

Crysencio Summerville

Back in a Premier League starting line-up for the first time since early January, Summerville more than looked the part, asking constant questions of the Man United backline his pace and ability on the ball. He should have scored within the opening few minutes of the contest as David De Gea parried the ball into his path, but he pushed the ball over the bar.

He managed to get in behind on three or four more occasions throughout the contest and worked De Gea a few more times. He has plenty of competition for a spot on Leeds’ right wing but he did his hopes of keeping it no harm at all.

Losers

Leeds United

There are no two ways about it, the Whites didn’t get the result they deserved at Elland Road. They were the better side for large periods of the game and handled Erik ten Hag’s side well as they looked to contain and hit them on the counter.

As such, Rashford’s effort in the 80th minute came as a real sucker punch. It was against the run of play and it seemed to suck the life out of Leeds, who conceded again a few minutes later through Alejandro Garnacho.

Eyes will be on what Leeds do during the week in their bid to find a new manager, but next Saturday’s game with Everton could not be bigger now. There’s so much pressure surrounding that one and the Whites simply cannot afford to lose it.

Jack Harrison

Another tough outing for the 26-year-old. He carried a real threat at Old Trafford on Wednesday night with his running game but he couldn’t build on it at Elland Road.

He did find the occasional bit of joy, but he struggled to find an end product as Man United wrapped up the danger he poses. Harrison has blown hot and cold this season, but this was a poor day for him and he was eventually replaced by Brenden Aaronson.

Wilfried Gnonto

He’s been Leeds’ main man over the last couple of months, but he struggled to make a real impact in this one. The Italian grew into the game in the second half, but the first half seemed to pass him by at times.

Gnonto did manage to work David De Gea with an effort from the edge of the area, but that was probably his best moment on what was a quiet day for him.

Leeds United left empty-handed after Man United defeat as pressure cranks up ahead of key week

Winners

Losers

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