Leeds v Burnley ratings: Dallas 8, Meslier 7; McNeil 5, Mee 7

Victory at Elland Road eases Leeds' relegation fears

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  LEEDS UNITED RATINGS: Illan Meslier, 7 - Commanded his area well to punch away a dangerous whipped free-kick from Ashley Westwood and kept his side on terms when he thwarted Chris Wood from close range. Given no chance by Maxwel Cornet’s free-kick. Getty

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  Stuart Dallas, 8 - Cut in from the left and drilled a low effort at goal, despite the fact that he was playing right-back. Curled in a spectacular winner on his left foot that had Wayne Hennessey rooted to the spot. Getty

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  Luke Ayling, 7 - Created a huge chance when he picked out the unmarked Tyler Roberts with a calculated delivery from the right and he sent Klich through with a stunning ball that split the Burnley defenders, but Roberts cruelly slipped. Getty

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  Robin Koch, 6 - Put himself in the right place to repel an early Taylor cross, and apart from that he wasn’t really troubled at any stage, other than a couple of chances for Wood. Getty

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  Diego Llorente, 6 - Became the second Leeds man to earn himself a suspension when he was deemed to have hauled down Maxwel Cornet, and that proved even more costly when the substitute fired home a cracker from the resulting free-kick. Reuters

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  Junior Firpo, 7 - Denied twice from point-blank range - first by Hennessey and then a Burnley defender before he was later denied by a brilliant Ben Mee challenge. Thankful to see Wood fire over after giving possession away to Taylor. Reuters

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  Adam Forshaw, 7 - Midfielder showed his superb quality in possession once again, bending Burnley’s shape like play-doh as he turned out, in and out again before calmly picking his pass. A composed display in the middle of the park. Reuters

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  Raphinha, 7 - Had Burnley defenders scrambling as he stretched his legs for the first time inside four minutes and he was inches away from an unforgettable strike when his 40-yard effort dipped just over the bar. Hit the side-netting with the goal gaping. Reuters

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  Mateusz Klich, 8 - Pressed excellently in the middle. Calmly squared to put Roberts through on goal but the latter slipped on the sodden pitch. Started the move that killed the game when he won a midfield battle before feeding Joe Gelhardt on the right. AP

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  Jack Harrison, 7 - Conceded an avoidable corner with a poor header back to his goalkeeper but he got it right at the other end, punishing Burnley at the second attempt after the Burnley keeper could only parry the ball straight back to him. Getty

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  Tyler Roberts, 5 - Earned suspension when he saw yellow for a lunge on Matthew Lowton, squandered a couple of big opportunities and slipped at the vital moment when clean through on goal, before limping off with a muscle injury. PA

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  SUBS: Daniel James (on for Harrison 62’), 8 - Wasted no time in attacking the Burnley box when he raced away down the left and delivered a tricky cross. Sealed all three points when his header was too hot for Hennessey to handle. Getty

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  Joe Gelhardt (on for Roberts 59’), 7 - Plenty of energy and endeavour, and he grabbed a deserved assist when his in-swinging cross was nodded in by James. Getty

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  BURNLEY RATINGS: Wayne Hennessey, 6 - A couple of nervy moments and he was almost caught out by Raphinha’s ambitious effort, but produced a handful of smart saves. Wasn’t too much he could do about any of Leeds goals. Reuters

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  Matthew Lowton, 6 - On the wrong end of a sore one as Roberts saw yellow for a first-half lunge. Perhaps too slow to react as Harrison opened the scoring from Tarkowski’s mistake. AP

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  James Tarkowski, 5 - Never really looked comfortable under Leeds pressure and he was punished for a calamitous pass straight at Harrison who pounced at the opportunity to open the scoring. Getty

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  Ben Mee, 7 - Led by example and produced a couple of vital interventions. Kept his side in the game with a huge block to deny Firpo again, but even he couldn’t keep Leeds out forever. Getty

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  Charlie Taylor, 6 - Burnley’s biggest creator all afternoon. He twice picked out Wood with precise crosses from the left, but the latter could only pick out Meslier and then the stand. PA

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  Dwight McNeil, 5 - The less said about his first involvement the better as he scuffed his intended delivery which trickled along the saturated Elland Road turf and was easily cleared. A quiet first half and he wasn’t much livelier in the second after moving to the left. Getty

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  Ashley Westwood, 5 - Looked to cause problems with an early set-piece, but his whipped fee-kick was dealt with well by Meslier who punched clear. Struggled to contain the quality of Forshaw and Klich. Getty

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  Jack Cork, 6 - Did well to charge back and turn Harrison’s cross behind for a corner after careless play from Westwood. Battled hard in the middle to give his side a stronger foothold in the game after a breathless first half. Getty

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  Johann Gudmundsson, 5 - Showed good feet to wriggle out of a tight space and squeeze the ball into the feet of Aaron Lennon with three white shirts around him. A quiet afternoon for the Iceland man who was replaced at the break. PA

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  Aaron Lennon, 6 - Asked a question for the first time when his fizzed delivery evaded everyone. Re-stationed on the right flank after the restart and had Leeds hearts in mouths when his early delivery was flicked towards Cornet by Wood, but it came to nothing. Getty

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  Chris Wood, 6 - Plenty of boos in the early stages for the man who hit 30 goals for Leeds in the 2016-17 campaign, although he was close to silencing them when his side-footed effort was saved by Meslier before he curled just over late in the first half. Reuters

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  SUBS: Maxwel Cornet (on for Gudmundsson, 45’), 7 - Brought on at the interval with Lennon dropping out wide, winning his side a free-kick in a dangerous area before picking himself up to bend home an absolute stunner. PA

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  Jay Rodriguez (on for Lennon, 79’), N/A - A frustrating 11 minutes for the forward in which he didn’t really make an impact. Getty

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  Matej Vydra (on for Wood 84’), N/A - A 13th introduction of the campaign for the Premier League’s most-used substitute, but this one was little more than a cameo. Reuters

Stuart Dallas and substitute Daniel James gave Leeds United a valuable 3-1 victory over Burnley, moving them eight points clear of the relegation zone on Sunday.

The hosts dominated the first half, taking the lead after Jack Harrison found the net in the 39th minute from a tight angle.

Burnley found their edge in attack after the introduction of top goalscorer Maxwel Cornet at the break, the Ivorian firing in a free kick from 25 metres out to stun Elland Road in the 54th minute.

Dallas then scored the crucial second goal for Leeds from the edge of the penalty area 13 minutes from time. James' stoppage-time header sealed a first win in five league games for Leeds.

"I don't ignore the situation we are in," Leeds coach Marcelo Bielsa said. "Every week you have to prove yourself.

"Even if the performance today was a step forward, we need to maintain that level against any opponent. We showed a lot of commitment today."

"The biggest summary I can give you is that they played with an edge that we're still trying to find," Burnley manager Sean Dyche said.

"I have total belief in the players. I have so much respect and admiration for them and what they bring to the club."

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