Sheffield Wednesday 0 Leeds United 2 – Lift Off. A confident all round performance by the players with a comfortable win against Sheffield Wednesday who never really challenged the Leeds goal. Now Leeds United’s season has lift off.
The arrival of Largie Ramazzani was a huge and vital shot in the arm for the fans at a delicate time for the club. Two draws and a defeat at the start of the season, loss of three key players, and a lack of incoming transfers has led to a sense of an existential crisis – for a club looking for promotion it feels like the edge of the abyss.
The need for at least two more incoming players has left Leeds with a light squad against Sheffield Wednesday – two goal keepers on the bench but no Bamford and Wober who are both injured. The poor performance of Piroe in number 10 saw fans calling for Aaronson in that position with his pace and dribbling – so this is his opportunity. Piroe needs to be in the box and has fallen behind Joseph for that position.
Sheffield Wednesday are having a rocky start to the season with a 4-0 win and a 4-0 defeat. So this match felt liek it was going to be wide open. Both teams started on the offensive. There were some partnerships – Aaronsson linking up with Joseph who had an early shot saved. James and Bogle linked up on the right to get crosses into the box.
Leeds had s fight in them hunting in packs to win the ball. Gnonto was fired up both with reckless fouling and being fouled, picking up a yellow card on the way. Wednesday used their superior pace on the counter with Bogle struggling against Osaba’s pace, at one point on the floor. Their long throws tested our defence but Struijk and Rodon growing solid in defence. Ampadu soaked up their high press easily finding gaps.
On 24 minutes Leeds carved Wednesday open with the first goal. Quick movement from Aaronsson in our own half saw Gnonto pass forward quickly with Joseph lay off the ball to a charging Aaronsson who netted the ball. A good decision by the referee allowed play on as Joseph was fouled in the box.
Leeds end the first half with a long period of patient possession and running back in numbers when Wednesday try to break. Leeds could have had the second when Firpo crossed the ball behind the Wednesday defence but James could not stretch enough. This was a much more complete performance from Bogle. He made vital tackles in defence and got forward to set up chances – not unlike Firpo.
After Wednesday tred to get the second half under way Leeds broke forward and scored within four minutes. A piercing ball forward found Wednesday with only one player back who James raced past and scored the easiest of goals to put Leeds two up, earning a yellow card in the process.
Wednesday gradually ran out of ideas as Joseph and James tested their keeper. Gnonto spent most of the second half being fouled at one point on the ground pointing to four fouls the referee could have chosen in that moment.
This was more than just backs against the wall after recent events. This was our defence being confident about passing from the back, Ampadu commanding the ball in the middle, and a patient possession game with quick passing forward or long balls to Joseph. It was a mild Yorkshire derby with a smattering of yellow cards on either side. It was also a confident all round performance by the players with a comfortable win against Wednesday who never really challenged Meslier. Now our season has lift off.
Man of the match: Mateo Joseph who assisted in both goals and was busy in the box. More to come.
