Sitting in 17th place in the Championship and staring upwards at a team in 4th place is daunting, even more so when your attacking force is largely impotent and the opposition are scoring for fun. That’s what was facing Leeds United today as they welcomed Hull City up the A63 and M62 to Elland Road.
Jimmy ‘Greavsie’ Greaves used to say that football was a “funny old game” to his co-host Ian ‘Saint’ St John and it was at Elland Road as the Whites leaped out into a 2-0 half-time lead against a team studded with Premier League quality players. Yes Leeds were pegged back by an Ahmed Elmohamady goal on 51 minutes but Leeds showed a certain level of steel and resolve that held their supposed higher-achieving opponents out.
In doing so, Leeds helped to further break a hoodoo that had stretched back to March of last season but was ended with the recent Elland Road victory over Cardiff, as they actually further winning at home. Nigh on 25,000 fans braved the lashings of Storm Desmond to witness a Leeds side emerge victorious in a game at home against real quality opposition.
After the shock of the first half lead, to see Leeds United holding on to a good lead was a sight for sore eyes and a very welcome one indeed. Still, there was still that need to see the game through and avoid the usual ‘Chuckle Brother’ defending, which in honesty Leeds did. Yes they rode their luck at times but at the end of the day the history books will only show the stark reality of a 2-1 Leeds United victory at Elland Road. A wondrous thing to behold and one that Leeds fans will help kick the team on for a better string of results leading up to a hectic Christmas period.
Leeds sparkle at tiems in a 2-1 victory – Twitter reacts
That was excellent from Leeds United, everything that makes the club great – passion, team work, commitment. Club felt UNITED today #Lufc
— Gareth Jones (@garethjones25) December 5, 2015
Can't decide what's better, Cook's pass or Dallas' run. Incredible vision by Cook but Dallas has bust a gut to get there too. #lufc
— 𝕋𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕪 (@tommy_lufc) December 5, 2015
https://twitter.com/lufcryan1991/status/673196707186909184
We've actually won a game of football #LeedsVsHull #lufc #mot
— Gary Frielick (@GaryFLUFC) December 5, 2015
https://twitter.com/svb777/status/673193753117609985
https://twitter.com/IAMdaniellekent/status/673193240682733568
https://twitter.com/loveleedsh8ken/status/673191429179576320
Well #lufc that was a pleasant surprise. Build on it now. 👍👍👍
— Mr Geldard (@MrJGeldard) December 5, 2015
Well, a deserved win at home, something of a rarity of late too. Whilst not being a total performance, there were scrappy periods and moments of ‘not again’ but the thing is that’s three points in the bag and sees Leeds remain in 17th place and an equidistant seven points away from the last playoff place and the first relegation spot. Plus we’ve not changed the manag…sorry head coach before Christmas.
