Leeds 0-1 Wolves: Player Ratings as Deflected Jimenez Goal Makes the Difference

Wolves moved up to sixth in the Premier League with a narrow 1-0 victory over Leeds at Elland Road on Monday evening.

The pair played out a tightly fought contest, with Leeds having the better of the first half and Wolves edging it in the second. With so little to choose between the two, fittingly it was a slice of luck that decided proceedings as Raul Jimenez's effort from the edge of the box fortuitously deflected in off the head of Kalvin Phillips.

Let's get into some player ratings.

Leeds

1. Goalkeeper & Defenders

Illan Meslier (GK) - 7/10 - Made a fine save to keep out a stinging Podence effort on the stroke of half time, and another strong palm to keep the Wolves man out once more in the second.

Robin Koch (CB) - 6/10 - Comfortable in possession, bringing the ball out from the back confidently on a couple of occasions in the first half.

Pascal Struijk (CB) - 5/10 - Came in for Liam Cooper late on after the Leeds skipper was injured in the warm up. Put in a solid display, but slipped in the buildup to Wolves' opening goal. Replaced after 75 minutes.

Luke Ayling (CB) - 7/10 - Operating as a right sided centre back but marauded forward like a wing back in the first half. Had fewer opportunities to drive forward in the second.

2. Midfielders

Jack Harrison (LM) - 7/10 - A real live wire down the left flank, giving Semedo a torrid time. So energetic, adventurous and exciting.

Kalvin Phillips (DCM) - 6/10 - Was unfortunate as Jiminez's effort deflected off his head and into the net as Wolves opened the scoring. Not quite able to dictate play to such devastating effect as usual.

Stuart Dallas (CM) - 7/10 - Seamlessly stepped into midfield, dealt with Traore very competently when the Wolves man entered the fray.

Mateusz Klich (CM) - 7/10 - Really impressive. Such attention to detail and popped up everywhere. An absolute steal at £1.5m

Rodrigo (CM) - 6/10 - Grew into the game and looked dangerous when surging forward with the ball. So energetic, pouring into the box at every opportunity.

Hélder Costa (RM) - 6/10 - Looked really exciting in the first half as Leeds pinned the Wolves wingbacks back in their own half and created their best openings from wide areas, but was quieter in the second half and was replaced after 70 minutes.

3. Forwards

Patrick Bamford (ST) - 6/10 - Sliced a half chance wide in the early exchanges and saw a header correctly ruled out for offside.

4. Substitutes

Ian Poveda - 5/10

Pablo Hernandez - 6/10

Raphinha - N/A

Wolves

5. Goalkeeper & Defenders

Rui Patrício (GK) - 6/10 - Very few saves to make but did what he had to do well, confidently collecting crosses and dictating play from the back.

Willy Boly (CB) - 7/10 - This was a Leeds side that had not drawn a blank all season, but Boly and the Wolves backline stood firm, restricting the Whites to half chances.

Conor Coady (CB) - 8/10 - Played a characteristic cross field pass in the buildup to Wolves' disallowed goal - the first time he really showed off his passing range all evening. So solid and intelligent defensively.

Max Kilman (CB) - 9/10 - Made a crucial clearance to keep out Ayling's goal bound effort in the first half and was an absolute rock at the back all evening.

6. Midfielders

Nelson Semedo (RWB) - 5/10 - Struggled against the vibrant Harrison all evening as cross after cross entered the Wolves' box from their right hand side.

Leander Dendoncker (CM) - 8/10 - A very assured performance, flying into tackles and shielding the back four expertly. Probably should have been booked at some point.

João Moutinho (CM) - 6/10 - Enjoyed a good battle with Phillips but struggled to exert his influence on the game and was replaced just after the 80 minute mark.

Pedro Neto (CM) - 7/10 - Put in a real shift, harrying the Leeds midfield when out of possession and keeping the ball neatly. Was substituted on the stroke of full time.

Romain Saïss (LWB) - 7/10 - Demonstrated superb vision to pick out Podence with an intelligent cut back as Wolves almost opened the scoring. Thought he'd opened the scoring with a fabulous strike, but Podence was ruled offside in the buildup.

7. Forwards

Raul Jimenez (ST) - 7/10 - Opened the scoring with a deflected effort off Phillips. It was a huge slice of fortune - but Jimenez worked so hard to create the shooting opportunity for himself. Could have been sent off for what looked like a kick out in the dying minutes.

Daniel Podence (ST) - 7/10 - Almost opened the scoring just before the break with a fizzing effort from close range. Produced fabulous poise, skill and balance in the buildup to Wolves' disallowed goal - but he was fractionally offside.

8. Substitutes

Adama Traore - 5/10

Rúben Neves - 6/10

Fernando Marçal - N/A