Brentford 1-1 Leeds United Player Ratings: Jordan Henderson 8.5/10 Rated as A Hard-Fought Draw Sees Points Shared

This Premier League encounter at the Gtech Community Stadium was a genuine battle of wills. Brentford and Leeds United fought tooth and nail for every inch of grass. It was a classic case of two well-matched sides canceling each other out for long periods. The first half was particularly cagey, a tactical chess match. Both teams had half-chances, but nothing truly clear-cut materialized before the break.

The game absolutely exploded into life in the second period. What stood out to us was the immediate shift in intensity after the restart. Brentford seemed to find an extra gear. They finally broke the stubborn deadlock through a composed finish from the veteran Jordan Henderson in the 70th minute. It really felt like that might be the decisive moment to seal all three points for the home side.

However, you can never write off Leeds United, and they showed incredible character to fight their way back into the contest. They simply refused to lie down and accept defeat. The manager's substitutions gave them fresh impetus and energy. Their admirable persistence paid off when Dominic Calvert-Lewin powerfully headed home a late equalizer, sending the travelling fans into raptures. In the end, a draw felt like a fair result for this match, though both managers will likely feel they could have snatched it at the death. Here are Sportsdunia's Brentford vs Leeds United player ratings.

Leeds United Player Ratings vs Brentford

Check out the Leeds United player ratings for the Brentford vs Leeds United fixture.

Goalkeeper

Lucas Perri - 6.0: A somewhat shaky performance from the keeper. While he made a crucial save from inside the box, his distribution was a real source of concern for us. He completed only 30% of his passes and lost possession 20 times, putting his team under unnecessary pressure. He couldn't do much about the goal, but his overall game was far from convincing. A mixed bag, really.

Defenders

Pascal Struijk - 7.5: An immense performance at the heart of the defense. From our perspective, he was Leeds' best defender on the day. He was a colossal presence, making an incredible 14 clearances and winning 9 of his 14 duels. What also caught our eye was his ability to contribute offensively, creating two chances for his teammates. A truly dominant and composed display.

Joe Rodon - 6.5: A solid and understated partner to Struijk. He did his job without much fuss, contributing 7 clearances and winning most of his duels. He was not as involved with the ball but provided a steadying presence at the back. He kept things simple and effective, which was exactly what was needed in a tense game like this. A decent outing.

Midfielders

Jayden Bogle - 7.0: A very energetic and positive display from Bogle on the flank. He was a constant outlet, winning 9 duels and creating two key passes. His willingness to take on his man was impressive, completing three successful dribbles. He provided good defensive cover too, with three successful tackles. A performance full of running and intent.

Gabriel Gudmundsson - 5.5: A difficult day for Gudmundsson. He was rash in the challenge that led to the penalty scare in the first half, a moment of madness that could have cost his team dearly. He struggled with possession, losing it 23 times. He worked hard and drew three fouls, but his decision-making let him down on several occasions.

Ethan Ampadu - 6.5: The captain led by example with his work rate and passing accuracy. He kept the ball moving with 90% pass completion, a calming influence in a chaotic midfield battle. However, from our perspective, he could have been more influential in the final third. He had a couple of wayward shots and at times seemed to play it too safe.

Jaka Bijol - 6.0: A fairly solid, if unspectacular, 73 minutes. He was strong in the air, winning five aerial duels, and made five important clearances. He kept his passing tidy but didn't offer much going forward before being substituted. He did his defensive duties but struggled to impose himself on the game offensively.

Anton Stach - 6.5: A frustrating but very active performance. What stood out was his willingness to shoot, registering six attempts, though five were blocked. He was constantly trying to make something happen but just lacked that final bit of quality. He lost the ball a bit too often for our liking but his intent was always positive.

Ao Tanaka - 6.0: He was tidy in possession during his time on the pitch, but he struggled to get into the game. He created one big chance which was a highlight, but was otherwise quiet. We noticed he was bypassed in midfield quite a bit and only won one of his five duels. An average performance before being taken off.

Forwards

Dominic Calvert-Lewin - 8.0: The hero for Leeds. He was an absolute battering ram all game, constantly fighting for the ball. What stood out was his persistence despite being isolated for large parts of the game. He won a remarkable 8 duels and was a constant aerial threat. His goal was a classic poacher's finish, being in the right place at the right time. That header salvaged a crucial point for his team. A top performance.

Noah Okafor - 7.0: Looked like Leeds' most dangerous player for large stretches of the match. He was lively and his two shots on target forced good saves from the Brentford keeper. He missed a big chance that he'll be disappointed with, but his movement and willingness to run at the defence were a constant menace. A very promising display.

Manager

D. Farke - 7.0: His team showed great resilience to fight back for a point away from home. His substitutions were spot on, with Gnonto coming on to provide the assist for the all-important equalizer. The game plan to stay compact and hit on the counter eventually worked. A well-earned point on the road for his side.

Brentford Player Ratings vs Leeds United

Check out the Brentford player ratings for the Brentford vs Leeds United fixture.

Goalkeeper

Caoimhín Kelleher - 7.0: A solid and reliable performance from the Brentford shot-stopper. He made three important saves from inside the penalty area, keeping his side in the game, particularly in the second half. He couldn't do anything about the powerful header from Calvert-Lewin. His distribution was decent under pressure, and he commanded his box well with two punches.

Defenders

Aaron Hickey - 6.0: A quiet outing for the defender before being substituted just after the hour mark. He was neat in possession with a 91% pass accuracy but offered very little going forward and was dribbled past once. He did his job defensively without standing out. It was an okay performance, nothing more, nothing less.

Sepp van den Berg - 7.5: An absolute rock at the back for Brentford. He read the game brilliantly, making a staggering 11 clearances and winning 7 of his 10 aerial duels. He was a dominant force against the physical threat of Leeds. His passing was also crisp and accurate. A really impressive defensive showing that frustrated the opposition forwards.

Nathan Collins - 7.0: The captain put in a real shift. He was a warrior, throwing his body on the line with three blocked shots and nine clearances. He was vocal and organised his backline well. While he lost a few duels, his commitment and leadership were evident throughout the 94 minutes he was on the pitch. A captain's performance.

Michael Kayode - 7.5: An outstanding all-round performance from the full-back. Defensively, he was superb, winning five tackles out of five attempts. His pass accuracy of 93% was exceptional, and he was always an option on the ball. He won 8 of his 11 duels, showing great strength and timing. A very complete and impressive display.

Midfielders

Jordan Henderson - 8.5: Man of the match from our perspective. He ran the show in midfield with a commanding display. His goal was taken with the composure of a seasoned professional, breaking the deadlock when the game was tight. Beyond the goal, he created two chances and was always looking to get on the ball. He dictated the tempo for Brentford. A truly brilliant performance from the midfielder and the highest-rated player on the pitch.

Mathias Jensen - 6.5: A very tidy performance in the middle of the park. His 91% pass accuracy kept things ticking over for Brentford. He completed two successful dribbles and looked comfortable on the ball. However, he didn't provide much of a defensive shield, being dribbled past twice before his injury-enforced substitution. A neat but not overly impactful game.

Keane Lewis-Potter - 6.5: He had a lively hour on the pitch and forced a good save from the Leeds keeper with his only shot on target. He was very efficient with the ball, not misplacing a single pass. We felt he could have been more involved overall, with only 20 touches. He showed flashes of what he can do.

Vitaly Janelt - 7.0: A powerhouse in midfield. He was fantastic defensively, winning 8 of his 9 duels and making two successful tackles. His use of the ball was almost perfect, with a 96% pass accuracy. He was a disruptive force that broke up Leeds' attacks effectively. A great unsung hero performance from Janelt.

Dango Ouattara - 6.0: A really mixed and chaotic performance. On one hand, he won a penalty and was a threat, drawing fouls. On the other hand, he lost possession an alarming 22 times, and his final product was often lacking. He worked hard and got into good positions, but his decision-making was erratic. A frustrating player to watch.

Forwards

Igor Thiago - 5.0: A really difficult afternoon for the striker. We noticed he was completely starved of service and looked frustrated. He lost an incredible 15 out of 20 duels, which tells the story of his struggle against the Leeds defense. He was just physically dominated by the opposition. A day he will want to forget quickly.

Manager

K. Andrews - 6.5: His team executed their game plan well for 80 minutes. They were defensively sound and took their chance when it came. However, they couldn't see the game out, conceding late on. His substitutions were logical but failed to stem the tide of late Leeds pressure. He will be disappointed to only come away with a point.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match Goes to Jordan Henderson