Middlesbrough FC 0 Leeds United 1 Referees 2, True Grit. A well deserved win but everything that could have gone against us, did. But we held firm with Bamford who was superlative at the end when a calm head was needed. It would have been a cruel night if Middlesbrough had equalised after Leeds had two goals wrongly ruled offside. Instead it was a rollercoaster night as Leeds went from play-off third place to promotion first place.
I was drained by the end of the match. It was exhausting to watch Leeds with their backs against the wall. The players were shattered and on the ground at the final whistle. It was almost a party when the players went over to the fans but Farke ensured everyone knew that we have not got promoted just yet.
The Leeds Wobble
So here we are in April, at the business end of the season, and I was about to watch my first Leeds match when I genuinely fear we were not up to the job. All season we have managed to grind teams down and use the pace of our substitutes to get late goals. Burnley, Sheffield United, Sunderland – we have either beaten them or drawn against them. But, now, after draws against Luton and Swansea, Leeds looked like rabbits in front of headlights.
The worst fear I had at this point in the season, after the international break, was that we would go down the same dark alley we did last season that saw us miss out on promotion. And now I genuinely feared that is where Leeds were heading. Two lame performances have not given fans any confidence they can get out of this nervous wobble. Yet Leeds do not need to be like this – the experience gained from last season, no Leicester running away with the league, we were even three points clear at the top in March. We only had fear itself to face. Farke had jettisoned Meslier, and even Aaronson for one match. Yet here we were in third place, now dependent on Sheffield United and Burnley to blink. And what happened? They did and we held our nerve.
Questions have to be asked of Farke. Is this end of season wobble a trait of his management? Should he have dropped Meslier earlier? Shouldhe have bought a striker to replace Aaronson in January?
We don’t lose when we score first
Leeds are developing a reputation for scoring early goals. They did again as Firpo played Solomon who squared for James with his pace to score, within three minutes. It is what happens after that; we used to be able to keep the win but now we are in a wobble. It showed as Leeds looked nervous at times with loose one touch passes giving away thrown-ins.
Middlesbrough are promotion material with their patient passing that builds momentum with a wall of players around the Leeds penalty area. It demanded heavy concentration from Rodon and Ampadu. Leeds lived dangerously for the first half hour as Middlesbrough had a goal ruled offside. Middlesbrough were threatening as they dominated possession at times and stretched us down the flanks exploiting the space, but their shooting was woeful.
But with Middlesbrough playing on the ground Leeds were able to soak up the pressure. At first James and Piroe tried to counter attack but a well organised Middlesbrough defence closed them down. So they then tried patient possession which worked as it suited Leeds style. Leeds should have been two goals up but for a poor linesman decision that ruled Tanaka offside when the replay showed he was onside.
Start of second half saw again Leeds looking for an early goal with Piroe unlucky in front of the keeper and then Aaronson fumbling an acrobatic scissor kick. This was Leeds at their most lethal passing the ball forward without the opposition knowing what was happening to them. Minutes later James went on another individual counter attack but his final touch was too heavy as both Piroe and Solomon could not get there in time.
Middlesbrough responded well and were lucky not to have then equalised as Darlow saved a couple of shots. Whilst Leeds continued to look for that important second goal their final ball was wild: at one point Piroe cut the ball back behind a couple of Leeds players lined up to score. Leeds did score from a perfectly timed run by Bamford but again the linesman wrongly ruled it offside.
As the match drew to a close Leeds sat deep and dangerously, just booting out the ball whilst Middlesbrough then walked it back in. Everyone, the players and the fans, were drained and nervous. Respect to Middlesbrough who dominated the last quarter of an hour, Leeds managed to slow the game down and show true grit, deservedly ending the match the winner.
The injuries are piling up for Leeds with Struijk off at Luton and then James today. Aaronson is still misfiring being unable to hold the ball. Tanaka had a better game getting stuck into tackles. Rodon and Ampadu were imperious in defence but we missed Rothwell in midfield.
Man of the match: Darlow – safe pair of hands making important saves, and confidence with balls into the box.
