Leeds United player's nightmare fuel, attacker's good day and off-camera Crystal Palace moments - YEP 10/4/23
The Leeds United who emerged for the second half against Crystal Palace would lose handily to the Leeds United who started the first half.
By Graham Smyth
As the game began, with the Whites on the attack and taking
a deserved lead, it looked for all the world like Javi Gracia's men had simply
picked up where they left off in midweek, having beaten Nottingham Forest 2-1.
And even though Palace caused problems from set-pieces, even
though they levelled from one in first half stoppage time, there was no sign of
the about-turn the game was about to perform.
Here's the YEP take.
Good day
Michael Olise
A wonderful footballer to watch, a nightmare to defend. He
went past Leeds players with alarming ease, getting to the byline to cause
havoc. The attacker left the Elland Road pitch with three assists to his name
and he was a huge influence on the result. Leeds giving him so much space and
time on the ball was the helping hand a player of his ability rarely needs.
Good-ish day
Adam Forshaw
He'd likely trade it for a Leeds win, but a place in a
matchday squad feels like a giant step forward for a player who disappeared
after the Newcastle United away game on December 31 through injury and has not
been seen in action since. It had started to feel, with Gracia electing not to
speak about injured players, that the soon-to-be-out-of-contract midfielder
might not appear again, so his surprise inclusion on the team sheet is at least
one small positive from a dreadful day.
Bad day
Luke Ayling
The captain has been creaking in recent games, after a very
solid run at right-back that left Rasmus Kristensen with little chance of
getting back in. There was an argument that Gracia could have left Ayling out
against Forest but there was a huge case for Ayling to be dropped against
Palace. He stayed in the team, had a decent enough first half and then a truly
horrible time of it after the break. Pace has been a big problem for him but
giving the ball away and failing to challenge in the area proved costly. It was
nightmare fuel.Javi Gracia
He got the plaudits when his tactical changes worked in
previous games and results came his and Leeds' way, but he'll get criticism for
not being able to change the way this one went. The team selection from the
start, the set-piece defending and waiting until the points were halfway down
the road to London before changing it were all issues. His work this week must
help protect Leeds from any psychological damage and move things on
swiftly.Off-camera moments
Michael Skubala filling in as Patrick Bamford's passing
partner in the warm-up as Weston McKennie emerged a moment or two late.
Willy Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville getting to flick the
ears of Georginio Rutter, who miscontrolled in their game of keepy-ups. Gnonto
then taking his medicine after leaving a pass short. Summerville taking off his
glove to dish out the punishment to his best mate, leaving the Italian
inspecting the area for damage.
Jack Harrison struggling to keep his mascots under control
as the team walked out. Smiling a helpless smile at Weston McKennie as a tiny
boy danced to the beat of his own drum and left Harrison to try and steer him
on the right path towards where the teams line up to shake hands.
McKennie and Gracia's lengthy chat after Palace's first
spell of the game.
Gnonto chiding Rutter for almost taking him out with a
driven pass as the subs warmed up at the break.
Gracia urging Koch to calm down as he played a long ball to
no one early in the second half.
A frustrated Meslier going straight down the tunnel at
full-time.
