Leeds United continue to be an incredibly difficult team to break down and beat after their 0-0 draw with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Sunday afternoon.
The Whites have only lost one of their eight games in the Premier League this season, but they have also drawn five and only won two of the other seven.
Daniel Farke‘s side’s defensive solidity has been at the heart of their impressive start to the 2026/27 campaign, and they added their third clean sheet of the season against the Black Cats.
It was not an easy clean sheet to claim, though, as the home side put plenty of pressure on James Trafford, who delivered an almost faultless display.
How James Trafford saved Leeds against Sunderland
The England international faced four shots on target, 20 crosses into the box, and 61 long balls from Sunderland throughout the game on Sunday, and he stood up to all of it.
Aside from a miskick, which only went out for a throw-in, late in the game, the former Manchester City stopper earned his team a point with a sublime performance between the sticks.
Trafford’s most important save came in the first half when he brilliantly smothered a shot from Brian Brobbey after a poor back pass from Jaka Bijol sent the striker through on goal.
|
Vs Sunderland |
James Trafford |
|---|---|
|
Shots saved |
4 |
|
Goals conceded |
0 |
|
Goals prevented |
+0.81 |
|
Punches |
2 |
|
Sweep success rate |
100% |
|
Crosses claimed |
3 |
|
Duel success rate |
100% |
|
Ball recoveries |
12 |
The 24-year-old stopper also claimed three crosses under pressure, including one late on to relieve pressure on his defence, and came off his line to make two punches.
His stunning display in goal for Leeds ensured that Sunderland did not find a winning goal on the day, which potentially saved the likes of Harry Wilson from gaining even more criticism.
Why Wilson needs to thank Trafford
The Wales international needs to thank Trafford for his performance because the winger could have come under even more criticism for his display if the team had lost the game without scoring.
Wilson was selected to play on the right side of the attacking trio at the top end of the pitch, but he was unable to make a significant impact on the game from open play.
The left-footed flop’s only ‘big chance’ created was an inswinging corner that was met by Tarik Muharemovic’s head, as he failed to take any shots or create any chances from open play in 66 minutes on the pitch.
He also struggled with the physical side of the game, losing five of his seven duels, and earned a player rating of 4/10 from FFC for his showing, and the forward should be grateful that his underwhelming display did not come in a defeat.
Why Harry Wilson looks like a poor man’s Jack Harrison
Leeds thought they were making an exciting addition to their attack when they landed Wilson on a free transfer, after he scored ten goals and provided seven assists in the Premier League for Fulham in the 2025/26 campaign.
He arrived as the replacement for Jack Harrison, who signed for New England Revolution, but is already starting to look like a poor man’s version of the Englishman.
Harrison had a dismal end to his time at Elland Road, failing to score in 13 appearances in the first half of last season, but he ended his time at Elland Road with 21 goals and 16 assists in 118 Premier League games for the club.
The left-footed winger had a disappointing end to his career in Yorkshire, yet his time under Marcelo Bielsa left him with a respectable overall record in the top-flight.
Wilson, however, does not have a rich history of good performances for Leeds to fall back on and currently looks like the worst version of Harrison for the Whites.
|
26/27 Premier League |
Harry Wilson |
|---|---|
|
Appearances |
6 |
|
Starts |
2 |
|
Shots on target |
0 |
|
Goals |
0 |
|
Big chances created |
1 |
|
xA |
0.20 |
|
Assists |
0 |
|
Duel success rate |
41% |
The 29-year-old flop looks just as ineffective as the former Leeds winger did last season, as he has failed to deliver any goals or assists in the league this season.
Like Harrison, Wilson is a left-footed right winger who does not offer quality as a scorer or as a creator of goals, whilst he also loses the majority of his physical battles.
The ex-Fulham star’s underwhelming form is a major cause for concern, given the excitement that came with his arrival, and it remains to be seen whether or not he can escape being viewed as the worst version of Harrison.
