We can score from corners after all. This was less of a Yorkshire and more of demolition derby as we elbowed Sheffield United aside to continue our march towards Championship glory. Sheffield United were unbeaten before the came to Elland Road tonight and were well beaten by Leeds when they did.
This was Leeds at their best as they were last season against teams like Leicester City. Leeds looked like they had the fire to win tonight. With every match this is a team becoming more confident on the ball, playing with intensity in the tackles and surging forward not sideways.
Coming back from the international break it felt unpredictable if the players would be up for a derby like this or suffering from fatigue. But instead they were physical in the tackles, chasing the second balls and surging forward.
For over an hour Sheffield United dealt with the crosses and Cooper easily caught them. Following three substitutions Sheffield United briefly looked dangerous. Farke responded with Solomon and James being brought on, back from injury. And it worked.
Leeds did not just score but it was from a corner, something Leeds never do. A sneaky low corner finds a gap that Struijk ran in to, shooting first time into the net. Leeds fans joined in with a “we’ve scored from a corner” chant. We can score from corners after all. Then, just before 90minutes was up, Piroe slipped a perfectly weighted pass for Joseph to get ahead of his man, a little holding of the shirt kept his man out of the way to to score. Our new super sub.
The fans remind Chris Widler that there is only one team in Yorkshire. The fans end the final minute with a rendition of Marching on Together.
All the players clicked together tonight. Ramazani is growing into a real threat for opposition defenders and was unlucky when his shot hit the post in the first half. Rothwell was instrumental with Leeds win tonight with his set pieces. Firpo and Bogle bossed the wings crossing into the box.
Gnonto and Aaronson, however, were tired; Aaronson’s shots went everywhere except towards the net. For a new member of the team Tanaka looked supremely comfortable on the ball and teamed up well with Struijk and Rodon like he had been around for years.
Sheffield United spent most of the night chasing the ball and relying on long balls over the Leeds defence towards Moore but Meslier was always there first.
Leeds did not just nullify Sheffield United tonight, they made look second rate. It was a delight to see Leeds play counter attacking football after all the cautiousness of the last few months.
Man of the match: Rothwell who fought for every ball and made that magical goal from a corner.