Ten-man Leeds United held on to draw 0-0 with Aston Villa in a low-quality and ill-tempered contest at Elland Road. Here’s a look at the winners and losers from the game.
Winners
Rasmus Kristensen
It was a real vote of confidence from the head coach to stick with the Denmark international despite the fitness of Luke Ayling. Kristensen missed the last game at Brentford through injury, but Marsch gave a clear indication that he is the club’s first-choice right-back by bringing him straight back into the side.
He was only on the field for an hour or so before being replaced by Ayling, but the right-back appeared safe enough down his side and looked in control.
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Robin Koch
Probably Leeds' best in a game in which the Whites were able to show very little quality. Koch was a strong presence at centre-back, working hard to keep the likes of Ollie Watkins and Phillipe Coutinho quiet.
The defender has been one of Leeds’ best this season so far and will he was kept very busy by Steven Gerrard’s side, he handled everything they threw at him and played a key role as Leeds held firm to keep hold of their clean sheet. Koch was the Whites' strongest, but Kristensen, Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson were amongst the decent performers, too.
Losers
Joe Gelhardt
The young forward started Leeds’ last game at Brentford, but he was replaced in the starting line-up by Rodrigo, who was returning from a shoulder injury. Most were expecting to see him named on the bench, but before the team news was revealed, Gelhardt could be seen on the Elland Road turf going through the motions with the fitness coach.
It looked like a late fitness test for the 20-year-old and if that was the case, his absence from the squad would suggest it didn’t go as well as hoped.
Diego Llorente
The defender has had 29 days to stew on his calamitous performance last time out at Brentford. He wasn’t given the chance to right his wrongs on Sunday, though, with Liam Cooper coming into the starting XI for the first time this season.
It wasn’t a surprise to see the skipper return to the fold and there were a few moments of indecisiveness, particularly in the first half, but he produced a sturdy display in the face of adversity in the second.
Luis Sinisterra
The winger was full of confidence after his three-goal haul on international duty, but it’s fair to say his return to Elland Road was a nightmare. Booked for a lazy tackle on John McGinn, clipping the heels of the Scottish international as he looked to start an attack, Sinisterra was then handed his marching orders early in the second half.
He nonchalantly stuck a boot out to block a Villa free-kick from being taken and the referee Stuart Atwell brandished a second yellow and a red shortly after without hesitation.
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