Leeds United 1-5 Crystal Palace: Player ratings as Eagles earn thumping win
Crystal Palace embarrassed Leeds United at Elland Road on Sunday, winning 5-1 in what was billed as a relegation six-pointer.
Both teams sat precariously close to the bottom three heading into the game, but goals from Ebere Eze, Jordan Ayew, Odsonne Edouard and Marc Guehi ease Palace's relegation concerns.
Leeds, on the other hand, now sit just two points outside of the drop zone heading into the final weeks of the Premier League season.
Roared on a by a raucous Elland Road crowd, Leeds started brightly and came within a whisker of opening the scoring inside the first five minutes. American international Brenden Aaronson would be the man who'd come close, seeing an audacious back heel effort from the near post area well saved by Sam Johnstone in the Palace goal.
The home side finally got their much deserved goal in the 20th minute through Patrick Bamford. The striker stole a march on his marker Tyrick Mitchell from a corner kick to brilliantly head home his 50th goal for the club.
Despite being second best, Palace really should have drawn level in the 25th minute. Jeffrey Schlupp found himself completely unmarked inside the six yard box from a corner kick, but could only find the foot of the post with his subsequent header.
Palace would cause Leeds even more problems from a set pieces 10 minutes later. This time it was Ayew who'd win a header from a corner kick - an effort which would slice narrowly wide of the foot of the post.
The next chance of the game would, again, come from a set piece. This time it was for Leeds as Aaronson's free-kick delivery into the box was met well by Pascal Struijk, who saw his headed effort saved by Johnstone.
There was one final chance before the half-time whistle which (say the line Bart) came courtesy of a set piece. This time, the chance would result in an equalising goal for Palace, as Guehi latched onto a flick-on header from a set piece to flick home the ball and make it 1-1.
Palace started the second half with a real spring in their step, pressing forward and pinning Leeds back into their own defensive third. The visitors would make this pressure count in the 52nd minute when Michael Olise clipped a lovely ball into the box, where Ayew was on hand to cannon a header into the bottom left corner of the net.
Almost immediately from the resulting kick off, Palace doubled their lead. The third goal would come courtesy of yet another Olise assist, as the young wide player threaded a lovely ball through to Eze who was able to side-foot under Illan Meslier and into the net.
With Leeds pushing forward in numbers in search of a goal, Palace were able to pick the home side off once again in the 70th minute to make it 4-1. Again, the goal would be created by Olise, who slid the ball into the path of Edouard. The former Celtic man made no mistake with his subsequent effort on goal, firing low into the bottom right corner.
Rather amazingly, Roy Hodgson's team weren't done there. Palace bagged a fifth when a Will Hughes shot deflected into the path of Ayew, who fired in the net from around the penalty spot.
Leeds United player ratings (4-2-3-1)
GK: Illan Meslier - 3/10 - Couldn't do much about any of the goals.
RB: Luke Ayling - 3/10 - Got forward well in the first half but was horrific defensively in the second.
CB: Robin Koch - 2/10 - Hopeless in the second half.
CB: Pascal Struijk - 2/10 - Struggled to deal with Edouard's movement.
LB: Junior Firpo - 3/10 - Really couldn't deal with Olise in the second half.
DM: Weston McKennie - 2/10 - Not good. At all.
DM: Marc Roca - 1/10 - Non-existent.
RM: Jack Harrison - 3/10 - He didn't offer enough.
AM: Brenden Aaronson - 4/10 - Extremely lively in the first half. His set piece delivery put the opening goal on a plate for Bamford. Faded like his teammates in the second.
LM: Luis Sinisterra - 3/10 - Started brightly and then faded badly.
ST: Patrick Bamford - 5/10 - Scored a fantastic header to open the scoring.
Substitutes
Rodrigo - 2/10 - He added nothing when introduced.
Rasmus Kristensen - 2/10 - See above.
Wilfried Gnonto - 2/10 - See above, above.
Georginio Rutter - 2/10 - See above, above, above.
Crystal Palace player ratings (4-3-3)
GK: Sam Johnstone - 7/10 - Made a number of crucial saves when Palace were under pressure in the first half.
RB: Joel Ward - 6/10 - Kept Sinisterra pretty quiet.
CB: Joachim Andersen - 6/10 - Struggled to deal with Bamford early on, but quickly worked him out.
CB: Marc Guehi - 7/10 - Stabbed home a crucial equalising goal on the stroke of half-time.
LB: Tyrick Mitchell - 5/10 - Lost Bamford in the lead up to the opener.
CM: Eberechi Eze - 8/10 - Really tidy in possession throughout and decisive when he needed to be too, scoring Palace's crucial third.
CM: Cheick Doucoure - 7/10 - Very impressive on both sides of the ball.
CM: Jeffrey Schlupp - 6/10 - Missed a brilliant chance in the first half, but made up with it by bagging an assist.
RW: Michael Olise - 9/10 - Non-factor in the first half but came alive in the second, setting up three goals.
ST: Odsonne Edouard - 7/10 - A wonderful goal to make it 4-1.
LW: Jordan Ayew - 8/10 - Scored a brace on the day.
Substitutes
Will Hughes - 6/10
James McArthur - N/A
Luka Milivojevic - N/A
Jean-Philippe Mateta - N/A
Nathaniel Clyne - N/A
Player of the match - Michael Olise (Crystal Palace)
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