• LEEDS UNITED RATINGS: Illan Meslier – 6. The goal from El Ghazi went through his legs, but he was difficult to fault him overly given it was at such close range. Reuters
    LEEDS UNITED RATINGS: Illan Meslier – 6. The goal from El Ghazi went through his legs, but he was difficult to fault him overly given it was at such close range. Reuters
  • Diego Llorente – 6. The Spanish defender made a remarkable recovery when he went from clutching an injury to squaring up to Watkins. Their duel was a good one. Getty
    Diego Llorente – 6. The Spanish defender made a remarkable recovery when he went from clutching an injury to squaring up to Watkins. Their duel was a good one. Getty
  • Liam Cooper – 7. The home side’s captain coped well enough with the threat of Watkins, and tried to push his side out of their second-half insipidness. AFP
    Liam Cooper – 7. The home side’s captain coped well enough with the threat of Watkins, and tried to push his side out of their second-half insipidness. AFP
  • Pascal Struijk – 5. Did little to impress in the 52 minutes he was on the field before he made way for Alioski. AFP
    Pascal Struijk – 5. Did little to impress in the 52 minutes he was on the field before he made way for Alioski. AFP
  • Luke Ayling – 6. His heart will have been in his mouth when the ball struck his arm in the box in the third minute. His afternoon was not an easy one. AP
    Luke Ayling – 6. His heart will have been in his mouth when the ball struck his arm in the box in the third minute. His afternoon was not an easy one. AP
  • Mateusz Klich – 6. Shown a yellow card for an unceremonious foul in the second half as the game became increasingly tetchy. He saw plenty of the ball, but struggled to create much with it. AFP
    Mateusz Klich – 6. Shown a yellow card for an unceremonious foul in the second half as the game became increasingly tetchy. He saw plenty of the ball, but struggled to create much with it. AFP
  • Stuart Dallas – 6. Leeds dominated possession, and Dallas saw much of it himself, but was unable to do much of note with it. Reuters
    Stuart Dallas – 6. Leeds dominated possession, and Dallas saw much of it himself, but was unable to do much of note with it. Reuters
  • Helder Costa – 5. Showed nothing like the incisiveness of Raphinha on the other wing, and made way for Harrison as the hosts chased the game. Getty
    Helder Costa – 5. Showed nothing like the incisiveness of Raphinha on the other wing, and made way for Harrison as the hosts chased the game. Getty
  • Tyler Roberts – 6. Started brightly and carved out shooting opportunities, but increasingly let frustration get the better of him as the game wore on, and was subbed off. Getty
    Tyler Roberts – 6. Started brightly and carved out shooting opportunities, but increasingly let frustration get the better of him as the game wore on, and was subbed off. Getty
  • Raphinha – 6. The Brazilian winger’s eye-catching dribbling too often preceded a lack of end product. He botched a gilt-edged chance to head in a Harrison cross near the end, too. EPA
    Raphinha – 6. The Brazilian winger’s eye-catching dribbling too often preceded a lack of end product. He botched a gilt-edged chance to head in a Harrison cross near the end, too. EPA
  • Patrick Bamford – 7. Almost created a goal after just 25 seconds, but slipped on the parlous pitch as he was unfurling his shot. Cut a frustrated figure for much of the rest of the time, but tried to carry the fight. Getty
    Patrick Bamford – 7. Almost created a goal after just 25 seconds, but slipped on the parlous pitch as he was unfurling his shot. Cut a frustrated figure for much of the rest of the time, but tried to carry the fight. Getty
  • SUBS: Ezgjan Alioski – 6. Got himself on the ball after his second-half introduction, but could not pick a way through the traffic of the Villa defence. Getty
    SUBS: Ezgjan Alioski – 6. Got himself on the ball after his second-half introduction, but could not pick a way through the traffic of the Villa defence. Getty
  • Jack Harrison – 6. Tried his best to spark something, and really should have had an assist to his name, after laying a golden chance on for Raphinha. Getty
    Jack Harrison – 6. Tried his best to spark something, and really should have had an assist to his name, after laying a golden chance on for Raphinha. Getty
  • Pablo Hernandez – NA. Brought on to help break the shackles on Leeds, but just cut an aggravated figure during his time on the field. Getty
    Pablo Hernandez – NA. Brought on to help break the shackles on Leeds, but just cut an aggravated figure during his time on the field. Getty
  • ASTON VILLA RATINGS: Emiliano Martinez – 7. Made a sharp reaction save to thwart Roberts, and he was up to everything Leeds had to offer – despite having to take painkillers for an ailment in the second half. Reuters
    ASTON VILLA RATINGS: Emiliano Martinez – 7. Made a sharp reaction save to thwart Roberts, and he was up to everything Leeds had to offer – despite having to take painkillers for an ailment in the second half. Reuters
  • Ahmed Elmohamady – 7. Had the strenuous task of trying to marshal Raphinha for much of the game. He managed it, and made a number of important headed clearances besides. AFP
    Ahmed Elmohamady – 7. Had the strenuous task of trying to marshal Raphinha for much of the game. He managed it, and made a number of important headed clearances besides. AFP
  • Ezri Konsa – 7. Handled the challenge of marking the in-form Bamford admirably, and even dribbled out of his own box during the tense finish, too. Reuters
    Ezri Konsa – 7. Handled the challenge of marking the in-form Bamford admirably, and even dribbled out of his own box during the tense finish, too. Reuters
  • Tyrone Mings – 8. A towering presence at the heart of a defence which continues to lay such a solid platform for Villa. AFP
    Tyrone Mings – 8. A towering presence at the heart of a defence which continues to lay such a solid platform for Villa. AFP
  • Matt Targett – 6. Did his bit in the defensive effort, which included getting under the skin of Roberts, in an incident for which he was booked. Maybe lucky he avoided red twice thereafter. AP
    Matt Targett – 6. Did his bit in the defensive effort, which included getting under the skin of Roberts, in an incident for which he was booked. Maybe lucky he avoided red twice thereafter. AP
  • Marvelous Nakamba – 8. Provided a sturdy screen in front of the Villa defence, including a crucial interception late on to prevent a pass reaching Raphinha. AP
    Marvelous Nakamba – 8. Provided a sturdy screen in front of the Villa defence, including a crucial interception late on to prevent a pass reaching Raphinha. AP
  • John McGinn – 7. As the Leeds players became increasingly aggravated, the Scotsman was often the subject of their ire. He thrived in the battle. Getty
    John McGinn – 7. As the Leeds players became increasingly aggravated, the Scotsman was often the subject of their ire. He thrived in the battle. Getty
  • Bertrand Traore – 6. Opportunities were few for him in the attacking third, but he did his part to help out in the defensive effort. PA
    Bertrand Traore – 6. Opportunities were few for him in the attacking third, but he did his part to help out in the defensive effort. PA
  • Jacob Ramsey – 7. Made an important block from a shot at a Leeds corner in the first half, as part of a high-energy display in the Villa midfield. PA
    Jacob Ramsey – 7. Made an important block from a shot at a Leeds corner in the first half, as part of a high-energy display in the Villa midfield. PA
  • Anwar El Ghazi – 9. Appeared to fear an offside flag when he opened the scoring from Watkins’ cross. So bright in the early exchanges, it was clear he was intent on erasing his bad memories from this fixture two years ago. Getty
    Anwar El Ghazi – 9. Appeared to fear an offside flag when he opened the scoring from Watkins’ cross. So bright in the early exchanges, it was clear he was intent on erasing his bad memories from this fixture two years ago. Getty
  • Ollie Watkins – 7. Assisted the opener for El Ghazi while slipping on the precarious playing surface, and kept the Leeds backline on high alert throughout. AFP
    Ollie Watkins – 7. Assisted the opener for El Ghazi while slipping on the precarious playing surface, and kept the Leeds backline on high alert throughout. AFP
  • SUBS: Morgan Sanson – NA. Brought on for Ramsey late on, and he was just as diligent as the player he replaced in the short time he was on. EPA
    SUBS: Morgan Sanson – NA. Brought on for Ramsey late on, and he was just as diligent as the player he replaced in the short time he was on. EPA
  • Trezeguet – NA. Did what was required of him in the final throes with two belligerent forward runs to carry the ball away from danger. PA
    Trezeguet – NA. Did what was required of him in the final throes with two belligerent forward runs to carry the ball away from danger. PA

Football

Leeds United v Aston Villa player ratings: Helder Costa 5, Patrick Bamford 7; Tyrone Mings 8, Anwar El Ghazi 9

Anwar El Ghazi stars with seventh goal of the season

Paul Radley
Paul Radley
Dubai

February 28, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Anwar El Ghazi banished his sour memories of Elland Road by scoring the winning goal as Aston Villa beat Leeds United 1-0 in the Premier League.

The Dutch winger avenged his controversial sending off when the two sides met in a fiery fixture in the Championship two years ago with a fifth minute winner this time.

It was his seventh goal of the season, and gave the away side a rare win without Jack Grealish, whose injury-enforced absence continued.

The home side were without their own England international midfield talisman, Kalvin Phillips, and they struggled to prise many openings on a miserable afternoon for Marcelo Bielsa’s side.

Player ratings from the match can be seen in the picture gallery above. To view the next image, click on the arrows or swipe if on a mobile device.

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