Leeds United

Leeds United: Beren Cross slams Pascal Struijk for ‘wretched’ display against Brighton

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Image for Leeds United: Beren Cross slams Pascal Struijk for ‘wretched’ display against Brighton

Journalist Beren Cross has slammed defender Pascal Struijk for his role in the most recent Leeds United match. 

In their latest Premier League game this weekend, the Whites took on Brighton and Hove Albion away from home but fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat. Indeed, a single strike from Pascal Gross in the second half was enough to settle the match in the end.

That defeat saw Leeds lose their first game of the season. With that in mind, it’s no shock that a few of the players were disappointed. Most notably, one such player – in the eyes of Cross at least – was Struijk.

Indeed, in the player ratings for LeedsLive, the 23-year-old was handed a lowly 4/10 for his efforts, with his afternoon labelled as ‘wretched’.

He wrote: “Had a wretched afternoon with [Solly] March. Outpaced and outdone all afternoon. A game where he stood out as a centre-back playing out of position.”

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TIF thoughts on Pascal Struijk and Leeds…

According to SofaScore, Struijk won just two of five attempted ground duels, and just one of three attempted aerial duels (the worst of any Leeds player). He also only recorded one more touch (47) than the goalkeeper Illan Meslier (46).

In defence of the defender, he is more naturally a centre-back – and has actually played more games as a defensive midfielder than at left-back – so a poor outing in an unusual position is somewhat understandable.

Even so, that doesn’t change the fact that he was extremely poor on a day when Jesse Marsch’s men failed to assert themselves away from home. Next time out, no doubt, he’ll hope to do much better; although it remains to be seen if he is trusted at full-back again.

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