Derby County 1-3 Leeds United Player Ratings: Daniel Farke's Men Mount Second Half Comeback To Hand Derby County a Heartbreak

The FA Cup third round match between Derby County and Leeds United was a joy to watch for any neutral fan. Leeds United ultimately ran out 3-1 winners against Derby County, but that scoreline barely tells the story of the drama at Pride Park Stadium.

Leeds dominated the early proceedings, only for Joël Piroe to see his penalty saved. It felt like a huge moment, after which, completely against the run of play, Derby County went up the other end as Ben Brereton Díaz found the back of the net in the 35th minute. You could feel the belief drain from the visitors.

But whatever Daniel Farke said at halftime worked wonders. Leeds came out as a different team in the second half. They blitzed Derby with two goals in four minutes, as Wilfried Gnonto equalized in the 55th minute and the superb Ao Tanaka put the Whites in the lead just a minute before the hour mark.

From then on, it was a professional performance, with the third goal coming from James Justin in the 93rd minute, sealing a deserved, albeit hard-fought, comeback victory in this thrilling match.

Here are our Derby County vs Leeds United Player Ratings.

Key Takeaways:

• Ao Tanaka and Wilfried Gnonto were pivotal in turning the game around after going behind, reflected in their high ratings and influence on the scoreline.
• Jacob Widell Zetterström earned one of the highest individual ratings for his penalty save and multiple top-class stops, keeping Derby in it longer than expected.
• While Derby took the lead through Ben Brereton Díaz, several teammates underperformed in the face of Leeds’ pressure, leading to the team conceding three goals in quick succession.

Derby County Player Ratings vs Leeds United

Take a look at the Derby County Player Ratings from the Derby County vs Leeds United Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Jacob Widell Zetterström - 8.0: What a performance from the keeper. He was the only reason Derby were even in this game for so long. The penalty save from Joël Piroe was magnificent, a moment of pure instinct and agility. He made a staggering eight saves in total, several of which were top-drawer. To concede three and still be one of the best players on the pitch says it all. He was completely let down by the defenders in front of him.

Defenders

Craig Forsyth - 5.0: A really tough afternoon for the veteran. From our perspective, he was targeted by Leeds's wide players and struggled to cope. He lost seven of his ten duels, which is a statistic that tells its own story. While he tried to contribute going forward, he lost possession far too often and just looked off the pace throughout the match.

Danny Batth - 5.5: A warrior-like performance in some ways, but ultimately part of a defence that crumbled. He was immense in the air, winning eight aerial duels, and made seven crucial clearances. However, he also committed four fouls and his distribution wasn't great. He battled hard but was overwhelmed by the movement of the Leeds attack in the second half.

Sondre Langås - 5.5: The quieter of the central defenders, which isn't always a bad thing. He was neat on the ball with a good pass accuracy but didn't impose himself on the game. He was part of a backline that conceded three quick-fire goals and he has to take some responsibility for the lack of organization when the pressure was on.

Joe Ward - 6.0: A decent outlet on the right flank, always looking to get forward and support the attack. He put in a few dangerous crosses and created a couple of chances. Defensively, however, he was caught out of position a few times. He did well in his individual duels but the overall defensive structure around him was poor.

Midfielders

Corey Blackett-Taylor - 6.0: Looked like Derby's main threat in the first half with his pace and direct running. He had a couple of shots saved and caused some problems down the left. He faded significantly after the break, though, and it wasn't a surprise to see him substituted just after the hour mark as Leeds took control.

Ben Brereton Díaz - 7.0: Derby's best outfield player. He took his goal superbly, a composed finish that gave his team a shock lead. He worked tirelessly off the ball and always looked to make something happen, even when the team was under the cosh. A quality player who deserved more from the players around him.

Lewis Travis - 5.0: The captain had a very quiet game. He struggled to get a foothold in midfield against the technically gifted Leeds players. He was booked for a clumsy challenge and just couldn't dictate the tempo as he would have liked. His substitution wasn't a surprise as Derby needed to change something.

Oscar Fraulo - 5.0: A difficult 45 minutes for the midfielder. He picked up a yellow card and seemed to be walking a tightrope. He was largely bypassed in the middle of the park and was substituted at halftime, which tells you everything you need to know about his impact, or lack thereof.

Forwards

Lars-Jørgen Salvesen - 4.5: A really thankless task for the striker. He was completely isolated for most of the game. What stood out to us was his duel statistic, winning only four of sixteen. He was bullied by the Leeds defenders and offered very little in terms of an attacking threat before being subbed.

Bobby Clark - 6.5: One of the few bright sparks for Derby in an attacking sense. He showed some lovely touches and created three chances for his teammates. He was always looking to get on the ball and make things happen. It was a bit of a surprise to see him taken off, but he can hold his head high.

Substitutes

Ebou Adams - 5.5: Came on at halftime but couldn't stem the tide of Leeds attacks.

David Ozoh - 5.5: Replaced the captain but struggled to make a significant impact on the midfield battle.

Rhian Brewster - 5.0: Offered little more than the man he replaced, struggling to get into the game.

Owen Eames - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Patrick Agyemang - N/A: Came on late with the game already lost.

Manager

J. Eustace - 5.0: His team took a shock lead, and the game plan was working perfectly for 45 minutes. However, he had absolutely no answer to Leeds's second-half adjustments. His side completely collapsed in a four-minute spell, and his substitutions failed to change the momentum. A disappointing day at the office.

Leeds United Player Ratings vs Derby County

Take a look at the Leeds United Player Ratings from the Derby County vs Leeds United Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Karl Darlow - 6.0: Had a very quiet day. He could do absolutely nothing about the goal he conceded. He made one comfortable save and his distribution was fine. A spectator for large parts of the game, which is a testament to the dominance of his team.

Defenders

Ethan Ampadu - 8.0: A true captain's performance. He was imperious at the back, winning his duels and reading the game beautifully. His passing was on another level, with 96% accuracy. He was the calm head that Leeds needed after going a goal down, leading by example throughout.

Jaka Bijol - 7.5: A very solid performance from the defender. He was strong in the tackle and composed on the ball. He even popped up with an assist, showing his quality at both ends of the pitch. He formed a formidable partnership with Ampadu that Derby's forwards just couldn't handle.

Sebastiaan Bornauw - 5.5: A shaky first half for the defender. He looked a little off the pace and was substituted at halftime. It proved to be the right call as Leeds looked much more solid after the break. Not his best day.

Midfielders

Jack Harrison - 7.0: A tireless performance from the winger. He delivered an incredible twelve crosses into the box, constantly probing the Derby defence. While not all of them found their mark, his persistence and work rate were key to pinning the home side back. A real team player.

Ao Tanaka - 9.0: Our Man of the Match, without a doubt. A complete midfield performance. He scored the crucial go-ahead goal, but his game was about so much more. He had 95 touches, made 10 ball recoveries, and created three chances. He dictated the tempo of the game from start to finish. A truly masterful display.

Wilfried Gnonto - 8.5: He was the catalyst for the comeback. His goal to make it 1-1 was a just reward for a performance full of energy and quality. He was a constant threat with his dribbling and movement. He created three chances and was a nightmare for the Derby defence to handle all afternoon.

Ilia Gruev - 7.0: A really neat and tidy performance in the heart of midfield. He kept the ball moving and was always available for a pass. His 84% pass accuracy helped Leeds control possession. He was substituted with the game won, a job well done.

Forwards

Joël Piroe - 6.0: A very strange game for the striker. On one hand, he missed a penalty and a couple of other big chances. On the other hand, he had seven shots and his movement constantly troubled the defenders. It was a frustrating day for him personally, but his presence was still a key factor in his team's attacking play.

Lukas Nmecha - 7.5: A proper handful up front. He won the penalty in the first half with his clever movement. He also provided an assist and was a physical presence that Derby's defenders couldn't cope with. He drew four fouls, highlighting just how much of a nuisance he was.

Noah Okafor - 6.5: A frustrating but ultimately effective performance. He created four chances for his teammates, showing great vision. However, his own finishing and decision-making were sometimes lacking. He has so much talent, but just needs to add that final piece of quality to his game.

Substitutes

James Justin - 6.5: Came on at halftime and helped solidify the defence.

Sean Longstaff - 6.0: Kept things ticking over in midfield as Leeds saw the game out.

Sam Byram - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Anton Stach - N/A: A late cameo.

Brenden Aaronson - N/A: Brought on to run the clock down.

Manager

D. Farke - 8.5: What a difference a halftime team talk makes. His side looked deflated at the break, but he made the right tactical tweaks and personnel changes. His team came out with incredible intensity and blew Derby away in a stunning four-minute spell. He masterminded a brilliant comeback and deserves huge credit.

Man of the Match

Ao Tanaka was Sportsunia's man of the match.

Worst Performer

Lars-Jørgen Salvesen of Derby County was the worst performer in the Derby County vs Leeds United FA Cup fixture.