, Leeds United fans comment after centenary game victory

Leeds United fans comment after centenary game victory

19 October 2019
2 minute read

Leeds United returned to league action this afternoon, after the recent international break, looking to put the misery of a contentious defeat to Millwall behind them.

Today’s game against visitors Birmingham City saw former Whites assistant Pep Clotet bring his side to Elland Road for a game that immediately followed the 100th birthday of Leeds United, a date that fell last Thursday.

Various celebrations had been planned to celebrate this momentous event, chief amongst these being a glittering ‘Legends’ dinner at the club and the release of a limited edition, one-off throwback shirt that was worn at today’s game.

It was a nip-and-tuck game in the early stages, one where Birmingham City showed that they weren’t going to just turn up and sit back like so many other of Leeds United’s visitors to Elland Road had done this season. It was almost a de facto tactic for many; they’d sit back, soak up pressure and then hit the Whites on the break to nick the three points – or a share of them.

It didn’t take long for the Whites to get into their metronomic rhythm and they began to press the Blues back as the first-half wore on, putting their rearguard actions under pressure and creating a series of corners that they, ultimately, failed to capitalise on.

Many Leeds United fans had been calling for Eddie Nketiah to start, and their pre-match clamouring took 45 minutes to be heard with the on-loan Arsenal wonderkid replacing Patrick Bamford for the second-half.  It only took three minutes for him to be involved in a meaningful way, winning a free-kick on the edge of the Birmingham area.

Whereas the first-half started at an even pace for both sides, it was the home side Whites  who commanded the opening of the second period. They pushed and probed at a tiring Birmingham side, creating more and more half-chances. It was the home side who took their chances from a breakaway and opened up what proved to be a decisive 1-0 lead.

Leeds made Birmingham City pay a high price for losing the ball, Manchester City loanee Jack Harrison laying the ball off to Kalvin Phillips who stroked the ball under Lee Camp from 14-yards out.

It was a goal that lit something of a spark under the visitors who looked for ways back into a game that had been taken away from them by Leeds’ suffocating pressing play. Leeds began to exploit the space that they visitors were leaving, yet they couldn’t work that second goal. Indeed, it was Birmingham who almost stole a point at the end, Kristian Pederson heading a leaning-back header just over as time ran out.

It was a hard-fought win that lifted Leeds United back into second place in the table, the last of the automatic promotion places. It was also a result that represented a huge sigh of relief for the 33,000-or-so Leeds fans in a 35,000+ Elland Road crowd.

Here’s what some of them had to say after the game.

Leeds United fans comment on Twitter after 1-0 win sees Whites climb to 2nd

https://twitter.com/mallindoso/status/1185586090402631681?s=20

https://twitter.com/jmf1908/status/1185586003886727169?s=20

 

Author
Graham Smeaton
Previous Article
, Milwall Player Ratings as Lions lose to Brentford.

Milwall Player Ratings as Lions lose to Brentford.

byAlex Grace
19 October 2019
3 minute read
Next Article
, Tottenham Hotspur linked with West Brom defender

Tottenham Hotspur linked with West Brom defender

byHarry Mail
20 October 2019
1 minute read
Related Posts