Leeds United thrashed West Bromwich Albion on Friday night to cement our place in the promotion picture, and Whites star Ezgjan Alioski has been acknowledged for his role in the win by the EFL.
The governing body of England’s football leagues have praised the Macedonian for rounding off “a superb team and individual display with a goal which was the icing on the cake”.
He had started the match at left-back, but popped up all over the field here and there to help Marcelo Bielsa’s men to the comfortable result, taking the second-most touches of the ball of anyone with 72 – only Pablo Hernandez bettered the 27-year-old with 85.
Alioski also recorded a game-high nine successful tackles and won two aerial duels. It was not enough for Man of the Match, though, as double goalscorer Patrick Bamford claimed that accolade.
A spot in the EFL’s Team of the Week was not awarded to Bamford, as only Alioski was chosen, ignoring the vital input of Tyler Roberts and Kalvin Phillips if not anyone else.
The TOTW shared on Tuesday also, interestingly, placed the 21-cap international on the right of a three-man central-midfield, despite his heatmap from the game showing far fewer touches on that side of the pitch.
Here is our Team of the Week! https://t.co/Os78g55yhc#EFL pic.twitter.com/mNYlHt5qTQ
— EFL (@EFL) March 5, 2019
The fact that Alioski was the only one chosen from the many praise-worthy members of Friday’s win also led the reaction on social media…
All 11 should be in it
— Rhys ap Dafydd (@RhysapDafydd2) March 5, 2019
Well done son but where the other 10 that played for leeds??
— Kye lufc ???????? (@KyeShortman) March 5, 2019
Only him??
— Louis (@L_Alexander20) March 5, 2019
Deservedly so for his stamina alone
— Michaela Ramsden (@KalabljParker) March 5, 2019
is he in every position?
— dyl (@dylburrows_) March 5, 2019
One of players of season
— AW (@AWwhite1) March 5, 2019
Strange that when so many fans over the past 12 months were calling for him to be sold suggesting he was shockingly bad and not even lower league standards ????
— Spendleb #FBPE (@Spendleb) March 5, 2019
Only him, could’ve had all 11
— Iljplumit (@Iljplumit1) March 5, 2019
They’ve put him in right of midfield though, which is totally different to where he was played against West Brom.
— Adam Wilkinson (@cllrawilkinson) March 5, 2019
Alioski is the best player at Leeds imo and he could easily play for a decent premier league side.
— Alex Malarkey (@AlexMalarkey) March 5, 2019