Leeds United 1 Stoke City 0 – Saving Face. Leeds sometimes flatter to deceive as the shots and crosses rained in on the Stoke City goal in the first half but only one shot found the back of the net. It needed a flash of brilliance from James to score through a mass of Stoke players to win the match. Despite flagging in the second half Meslier saved Leeds’s face with a astute save.
Stoke City are in the bottom three and fighting to get out of the relegation zone. Farke freshened up the squad after the physical derby with Huddersfield Town, with Roberts, Byram and James starting. It may be Tuesday night but Leeds fans have packed out the stadium.
After a lacklustre performance against Huddersfield Town, Leeds United started much more positively, chasing loose balls and pressing high. Stoke City played compact which worked for Leeds with Summerville and James running on the wings. Stoke City rarely threatened.
Leeds United were unlucky not win an early penalty James diving in on the the keeper Iverson holding the ball and coming out with a sore foot but no penalty. Eventually Leeds cranked up the pressure with Bamford, Georginio, and James all getting chances to score but Iverson saving well. It felt that Leeds were trying every trick in the book with speculative shots, switching sides and pushing men forward. The pace of Leeds passing from wing to wing opened Stoke City up. The fans joined in and at every opportunity they were shouting on the players to shoot.
Inevitably Leeds pressure prevailed. An individual effort from Georginio freed up the ball for James who swivelled his way through three players and whacked the ball across the goal past Iverson into the net. Stoke were reduced to long range shots with Meslier making an important save to stop a superb shot dipping under the net.
Late in the first half a dreadful pass out by Meslier was recovered by Leeds United who made a counter attack that led to a free kick with an interesting set piece to Bamford in the middle of the wall but his shot was blocked.
Leeds needed to be more clinical in front of goal in the second half and score that important second goal but appeared to flag instead. Early substitutions from Stoke worked them as they were the better team, winning the second ball and keeping Meslier the busier keeper, but not, until the final minute, ever likely to be troubled. Leeds lost the midfield – after a strong first half Amapadu and Gruev lost their way in the second half.
Farke’s frustration showed as he brought on forwards Piroe and Joseph early. Joseph made an immediate impact forcing a goal line clearance. It’ was an open last twenty minutes as both teams to looked to get that decisive goal.
Despite Pearson, who came on in the second half, collecting two yellow cards and getting sent off in the 85th minute for hacking down a surging Ampadu, Leeds didn’t fully take advantage. James had a second goal denied by Iverson’s face, but, the last kick of the match was left to Meslier save Leeds’ face. The match ended with Leeds fans singing Marching on Together as a win is a win.
Man of the match: James for his superb goal to win the match.
