---
title: "Unsung Hero: Leeds United’s Barry Douglas proves useful while under the radar"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/unsung-hero-leeds-uniteds-barry-douglas-proves-useful-while-under-the-radar/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Uways Nisar"
section: "uncategorised"
published: "2020-01-07T13:00:54Z"
modified: "2020-01-07T13:00:54Z"
---

# Unsung Hero: Leeds United’s Barry Douglas proves useful while under the radar

**Leeds United went down 1-0 to Arsenal in a battling display from Marcelo Bielsa’s side with one player managing to go anonymous yet prove useful.**

The Whites enjoyed the best of the first half action as they put the Gunners under, what can only be described as, immense pressure.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Unsung-heros.png)

Patrick Bamford came closest to opening the scoring in the first 45 as his thumping drive hit the bar after some intricate build-up play by the Yorkshire outfit [(via BBC)](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50976532).

By the half-time whistle, Leeds had managed to amass 15 shots on goal, [the joint-most Arsenal had conceded across all competitions this season](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50976532).

However, Leeds’ poor finishing would soon come back to bite them as they conceded a goal just nine minutes into the second half.

Reiss Nelson’s scuffed shot went in after Nicolas Pepe’s cross was deflected into his path by Gaetano Berardi [(via The Guardian)](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/jan/06/arsenal-leeds-united-fa-cup-third-round-match-report).

Jack Harrison proved to be the man of the evening from the point of view of the Elland Road side as he earnt a rating of nine out of 10 from [Leeds Live](https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/leeds-united-player-ratings-arsenal-17519907).

The Manchester City loanee [completed the most dribbles (2) and had the second-most shots (3)](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1434421/LiveStatistics/England-FA-Cup-2019-2020-Arsenal-Leeds) in a brilliant attacking performance.

However, it was the performance of Barry Douglas which really stood out that tuned in for the FA Cup third-round tie.

In what was just his fourth appearance in the last 15 games, the 30-year-old put in a solid performance at left-back as he won the second-most tackles (4) for his side, seemingly keeping the [£72m](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49197553) Pepe at an arm’s length in the first-half [(via WhoScored)](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1434421/LiveStatistics/England-FA-Cup-2019-2020-Arsenal-Leeds).

However, that didn’t impact his ability to contribute in attack as he played the [joint-third most long balls (5),](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1434421/LiveStatistics/England-FA-Cup-2019-2020-Arsenal-Leeds)which suggests he did his best in trying to find his teammates high up the pitch.

[Leeds Live](https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/leeds-united-player-ratings-arsenal-17519907) agreed with this assessment of Douglas’ performance as they gave him a seven out of 10, commenting on his return to the starting line-up.

They said: “Very solid return to the starting line-up. Linked up nicely in attack down the left flank with Ezgjan Alioski. No sign of tiredness or poor conditioning.” [(Source: Leeds Live)](https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/leeds-united-player-ratings-arsenal-17519907).

***Leeds fans, what are your thoughts on Douglas’ performance? Join in the discussion below!***