'Can't put a foot wrong' - Leeds United fans welcome Sunderland point after seeing recent 'blueprint for success'
Leeds United fans have their say after another point is gained against Sunderland
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s incredible run of form continued on Sunday as his equalising goal against Sunderland secured another point on the road to Premier League survival for Leeds United.
Here’s how our LUFC Jury saw the match...
Neil Grewer
Another away game where Leeds competed and, over 90 minutes, were the better team.
Sunderland shaded the first half and scored when Ethan Ampadu did not complete a clearance from a long throw and Granit Xhaka produced a defence-splitting pass to Simon Adringa who curled a lovely shot past Lucas Perri. More pertinent, however, was the injured ankle of Joe Rodon which clearly impacted his movement, consequently playing Adrinda onside.
The required substitution saw Daniel Farke change formation away from the three centre-backs with Ao Tanaka joining the midfield. Immediately Leeds gained more control.
On 47 minutes, a lovely team move from right defence through to left defence then back across to the right via midfield and into the opposition penalty area resulted in Brenden Aronsson feeding DCL who converted from inside the six-yard box. A wonderful team goal.
Leeds dominated from then on, statistically more than any other team this season at the Stadium of Light. Several half-chances were created but not converted while, late on, Sunderland threatened but Leeds stayed resilient. A good, professional, solid performance probably deserving of more.
Man of the match: DCL (getting better game by game).
Andy Rhodes
When you’re in a relegation battle, going a full month unbeaten is a real shot in the arm.
Taking points from the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool is no mean feat but Leeds were well worth them.
A draw at Sunderland isn’t bad either. The Black Cats were unbeaten at home and, in the end, will count themselves lucky they didn’t lose.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin can’t put a foot wrong at the moment and Brenden Aaronson is looking better by the week. This was a whole team performance and the stats show again that the Whites perhaps deserved more.
The injury to Joe Rodon is a big concern. He’s a rock at the heart of the defence and is also a crucial part of Daniel Farke’s 3-5-2 formation, even appearing on the wing against Crystal Palace.
Without that element of chaos, Leeds might be a bit more predictable against the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United.
However they go from here, they have shown that the blueprint for success is there. Keep it going and the positivity around the club will only grow.
Man of the match: Brenden Aaronson.
David Watkins
It doesn’t happen often because Leeds have a history of not doing what they are supposed to! Leeds fully deserved the point, and, on another day, we’d have come away with all three, having dominated the second half.
The first half was even in shots and chances, although Leeds dominated the possession. Noah Okafor had a goal-bound shot ‘shouldered’ over the bar, and Brenden Aaronson had a shot blocked on the line.
It was, therefore, a blow to concede a goal midway through the half, and to do so following a long throw made it doubly hard to swallow after what Leeds did to Crystal Palace! Leeds should have done better, failing to clear and then allowing Simon Adingra the freedom of our box. An injured Joe Rodon didn’t help matters.
Thankfully, we were soon level after the break with a fine team goal involving all 11 players in a sweeping move from end to end. A fine low ball from Aaronson was eased into the net by Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
We can now go to Anfield on New Year's Day full of confidence, no fear, and see if we can inch further up that table.
Man of the match: Anton Stach.
Leeds United boss Daniel Farke's mixed mood and Joe Rodon update after dressing room rollocking at Sunderland
Keith Ingham
Leeds produced a strong performance on the road to gain another point from a 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland led at the break but an early second-half goal, once again from Dominic Calvert-Lewin making it seven goals from six games for Leeds’ nine, secured a deserved point. Maybe it should have been three.
Daniel Farke, not surprisingly, kept faith with the side that beat Palace 4-1 with Lukas Nmecha returning to the bench. It was an open first half with a little ‘needle’, most directed at Joe Rodon, the first may have been an accident but the second deserved a yellow card.
It needed a little bit of class to open the scoring and Xhaka and scorer Adingra found it. Rodon coming off injured before half-time and being replaced by Ao Tanaka led to a switch to 4-3-3.
The second half was only minutes old when one of the goals of the season so far gave Leeds the leveller. The ball was touched by every Leeds player on it’s way to Brendan Aaronson who found Calvert-Lewin who finished superbly. His scoring run is the longest in 55 years. Ethan Ampadu had an effort blocked as Leeds went for the win but they had to settle for a great point on the road, putting them seven ahead of West Ham in 18th.
Man of the match: Brenden Aaronson.
Mike Gill
The scene was set for an epic struggle at the Stadium of Light.
The previous day, Nottingham Forest and West Ham had both lost, while Burnley hammered out a nil-nil draw against Everton – and you can easily imagine what a thrilling encounter that must have been!
Our game started slowly as both sides scoped each other out and it was clear that neither was prepared to give much away.
The normally bulletproof Joe Rodon was starting to struggle after two ugly tackles from Simon Adingra and, when Granit Xhaka sent Adingra away with a killer pass, the big Welshman was unable to block the Ivorian's fine curling shot that gave Sunderland the lead.
Rodon had to leave the field and is now a serious doubt for the next few games.
The Whites came out for the second half with renewed resolve and, within minutes, scored from a fine move that involved every player in the team.
The finishing touch was applied by Dominic Calvert-Lewin (who else?) and it was game on. After this, United dominated and were unfortunate to only come away with a single point. Onwards to Anfield. It doesn't get any easier does it?
Man of the match: Brenden Aaronson.
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