Leeds United fans have taken to Twitter to praise Stuart Dallas for his performance in his side’s 1-0 defeat to Swansea City on Saturday afternoon.
United were the victims of a real smash and grab at Elland Road, registering 21 efforts to the visitors’ seven before conceding a 90th minute decider from Wayne Routledge.
The result saw Marcelo Bielsa’s side slip from top of the table to third, with Swansea leapfrogging them at the summit, with Charlton Athletic in second.
To lose a game in that manner is always going to be a bitter, bitter pill to swallow, but at least there was a small silver lining for United in the form of Stuart Dallas.
The Northern Irishman is making the right full-back berth his own this season, and put in another eye-catching display in defence, and looked suitably dangerous on the front foot.
Dallas has been in fine form so far this term, and has averaged 1.8 tackles and two clearances per game, as per Whoscored.
If you factor in his pass completion rate of 80.9%, as well as 2.3 long balls and 0.8 key passes per match, it is clear why Bielsa continues to show his faith in him.
Here are some of the best tweets from United fans.
https://twitter.com/luke_fella/status/1167832950848872449?s=20
https://twitter.com/lyndseytruth/status/1167839313700282369?s=20
https://twitter.com/markrikko/status/1167833356807135236?s=20
Alas, his efforts weren’t enough for Bielsa’s boys to pick up a result, but there was a lot to be positive about in their display.
21 efforts created is something to be proud of, and while pride won’t put points on the board, the time to worry is when United stop making those chances.
If Patrick Bamford had been a little sharper, perhaps Leeds could have buried this one a lot earlier, but the fact that they were creating chances to squander will fill Bielsa with hope.
https://twitter.com/withey_george/status/1167811912576491520?s=20
https://twitter.com/dea9n083_/status/1167859324355395586?s=20
As for Dallas, if he keeps this up, he will keep Luke Ayling out of the side when he does eventually return from injury.
The 28-year-old has been out since preseason after undergoing ankle surgery, as reported by the BBC, and while his average of 2.2 tackles, 1.5 clearances, as well as 1.2 key passes, as per Whoscored, is very impressive, it would be wholly unjustified to give Dallas the shove.
Saturday was a real sucker punch for United, but at least Dallas gave some glimmer of hope.
He was my motm – another shift he put in
— Clair H (@rugbyleaguelady) August 31, 2019
