Leeds United drew 1-1 with Everton on Monday night in the Whites’ first trip to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
James Justin was among the players who impressed, with the 27-year-old scoring his first Premier League goal for Leeds.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink heaped praise on Justin after the game and even made an extraordinary claim where he predicted that the defender would go on to be an “England superstar.”
However, another Leeds defender did not enjoy as successful an evening as Justin, with the player in question breaking his silence on his costly error after the game.
‘Gutted…’ – Sebastiaan Bornauw makes honest admission after Everton error
Sebastiaan Bornauw was handed his third Premier League start of the season against Everton, with Jaka Bijol remaining out on the sidelines through injury.
Although Bornauw was solid for the majority of the game, the Belgian allowed Thierno Barry to dart across him at the near post before poking the ball into the roof of the net to give Everton the equaliser in the 76th minute.
When reflecting on the crucial incident in an interview with BBC Radio Leeds, Bornauw said: “The striker curls it over my foot – I was maybe a centimetre too late, and it’s a great finish. As a defender, you’re gutted.”
Perhaps this slight lapse in concentration is why Bornauw is behind the likes of Bijol in the pecking order when all the defenders are fit and firing; however, in his defence, Bornauw could argue that his lack of gametime makes it an unrealistic expectation for him to perform at his best.
READ MORE: 49ers should ditch Jorgen Strand Larsen deal in favour alternative £40m striker – The Leeds Press
Data suggests Sebastiaan Bornauw was solid against Everton
Aside from his error when marking Barry, Bornauw proved once more that he is an incredibly useful squad option for Leeds to have at their disposal.
The last time the Whites were in the Premier League, the drop off between the starting XI and bench was stark, but over the summer, the 49ers have assembled a core group of around 20 players who are more than capable of receiving Premier League minutes.
Bornauw was part of a backline that limited Everton to an expected goals of just 0.70 yesterday, with the Belgian also boasting some impressive numbers of his own.
Sebastiaan Bornauw vs Everton – Match Stats
| Stat | Sebastiaan Bornauw |
|---|---|
| Minutes | 85 |
| Defensive Contributions | 16 |
| Clearances | 10 |
| Blocked Shots | 2 |
| Recoveries | 4 |
| Ground Duels (Won) | 4 (3) |
| Aerial Duels (Won) | 11 (4) |
With there being numerous reports linking Bornauw with a move away from Elland Road in January, the game against Everton was further evidence that the 49ers cannot afford to let their reliable backup centre back leave mid-way through the season.
