Leeds United 2 Hull City 0 – Welcome to the new boys. This was a special day for the Leeds fans to see all their new players: Solomon started, Tanaka and Ramazani subbed on, and Schmidt warmed up.
This season was supposed to be about building on the performance last season. It was supposed to be about playing from the front foot on day one. Instead Leeds lost three vital players, drew their first match to newly promoted Portsmouth FC and got royally dumped out of the EFL cup by Middlesbrough FC. It felt like an existential crisis. The failures of the previous owners – incompetently managed player contracts – had come back to haunt us – again.
But the tide changed with a superlative derby win at Sheffield Wednesday. And then in the final week of the transfer window four new players rocked up – Solomon, Tanaka, Ramazani, and Schmidt. So what made this match – played on a hot late summer afternoon – special was the combination of a (mostly) stress free home win with a clean sheet, and all four new signings introduced to the fans – with three of them on the pitch showing how they will make a difference to Leeds.
After watching the stressful Portsmouth match – where we should be three goals up in the first quarter but instead spent most of the match chasing an equaliser, this was a safe match. Sat right behind the North Stand goal it was a nervy when Rodon and Meslier didn’t click and a Hull player nearly pounced on the ball in the penalty box – and Bogle went missing – but ecstatic to watch the goals go in, in the second half.
The first half ended goal less but the signs were in Leeds’ favour. Hull City were patient and gradually wrestled off possession from Leeds but struggled to break through midfield. Leeds were patient and Solomon impressed with his turns. Gnonto was on the wing dribbling and earned a yellow card for his efforts chasing down hull players.
The match came to life in the second half with Gruev unusually playing on the left wing – he supplied a cross that Joseph managed to get to before the defender with keeper with a sublime chip into the net. The tension was broken. It was a long afternoon for Joseph but he got his reward.
The match was put to bed when Piroe was subbed on and did what Piroe should do – appear unmarked in the box with Firpo floating in one of assists for Piroe to confidently slot the ball in the net. Hull City never looked liked scored except when Rodon was fouled (but no foul given by the appallingly inconsistent referee) and rather tall Liam Miller forced a save heading to the top corner.
So welcome to the new boys. When Tanaka and Ramazani were subbed on they both looked impressive – moving the ball quickly through one touch passes and quickly winning back lost balls. In only quarter of an hour Tanaka had 22 touches of the ball. The fans are already singing his name.
Man of the match: Solomon. Fitted in straightaway and contributed to a goal.
