A few Leeds United fans have been reacting on social media to a chart showing which players have won the most tackles in the Championship so far this season.
Each team bar Nottingham Forest and Reading have played 22 fixtures in the second-tier, with the City Ground and Madejski Stadium natives both having played 21 matches after their original clash was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
An extra match could have helped the Royals and Forest’s players to have penned greater numbers in the league this season, as the highest-ranked Forest player for successful tackles is Matty Cash in 13th having taken possession with 52 of his 72 attempts, per WhoScored data.
Omar Richards, meanwhile, is Reading’s highest-placed player with 49 successful tackles from 60 attempts across 16 appearances, 23 shy of league-leading United star Kalvin Phillips.
Our 24-year-old anchor tops the Championship’s successful tackles chart with 72 from 108 attempts, some eight more than Hull City’s second-placed Kevin Stewart.
The Tigers’ midfielder has featured in five fewer fixtures than Phillips, though, and has played 588 fewer minutes in the second-tier, yet has performed strongly enough at the KCOM to pen the same total of successful tackles as Swansea City’s Matty Grimes (64) but from fewer attempts (90 to the Swans man’s 96).
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Along with Phillips topping the overall successful tackles chart for second-tier players, we also have Stuart Dallas in the top-10 in ninth place with 54 successful tackles from 78 attempts – joint with Blackburn Rovers’ Lewis Travis but from fewer attempts.
Here are some of the messages shared as fans reacted to the Championship’s leading tacklers when a chart of their figures was shared online…
When you consider how much possession we have…
— Ashley Cresswell (@AshleyCress92) December 18, 2019
Think with Dallas he makes crucial tackles, edge of box, always seem to just nick the ball of someone’s foot in the danger areas. My most consistent player this season, work rate amazing. Fits into Bielsas system perfectly.
— Jacko (@AndrewAjacks) December 18, 2019
Pirlo didnt tackle or even jostle. Phillips can stand on his own. Complete Player
— Zai (@Zais_P3rch) December 19, 2019
Good to see Dallas on there also, he has stepped up a level this season 💪
— Paul M (@pauldmulhern) December 18, 2019
I’m more shocked Grimes is second
— stephen a (@4n4lstevie) December 19, 2019
Most improved player? Mr Grimes. He was dog awful for us.
— BROLIN ATE THE PIE (@REDPLANET2025) December 18, 2019
In other Leeds United news, the club’s rumoured pursuit of an influential £5.4m-rated star has been refuted.