Wins like Tuesday’s, when the majority of those wearing Leeds United white played well, make it quite easy to stick with what you have for the next match. The circumstances are going to be very similar given Elland Road will host another of United’s bottom-nine rivals with the same set of players available to pick from.
Luke Ayling and Brenden Aaronson were the only two who failed to catch the eye for the right reasons in midweek. The former has now had four consecutive matches with question marks hanging over his performance.
It was the vice-captain’s header which meekly fell to Emmanuel Dennis in the build-up to Nottingham Forest’s goal and there would be other errors after that too. Ayling showed character in coming back from those mistakes to put together a better second half, but, as was the case at the start of the week, it just feels like it’s Rasmus Kristensen’s turn.
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Aaronson has started all six of Javi Gracia’s league games up to this point and has clearly curried favour with the head coach, but he still goes missing when I’m watching these games. When it seemed everyone was doing their bit in Tuesday’s win, the American was the cog in the machine which seemed absent and ineffective.
Rodrigo has not always worked as the attacking midfielder playing behind Patrick Bamford, so given Luis Sinisterra and Jack Harrison aren’t going anywhere, Wilfried Gnonto would be my choice. Yes, most of us would agree he is better on that left flank, but if you’re not moving Tuesday’s goalscorers you’re a little stuck with where to play the Italian.
If Bamford continues to lead the press and act as a space-making focal point, we know Gnonto has that explosive acceleration and dribbling ability (see the Bournemouth winner) to cut down the centre and exploit any space.
Beren’s XI: Meslier; Kristensen, Koch, Struijk, Firpo; McKennie, Roca; Harrison, Gnonto, Sinisterra; Bamford.
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