Category: Leeds United

Leeds United 3   –     Portsmouth 3 – HT 1-2

P. Struijk (10′ pen)    E. Sørensen (23′)

W. Gnonto (46′)       C. Lang (41′, 90’+2 pen)

B. Aaronson (90’+5)

Assists –

G. Rutter (46′)           M. Pack (23′)

J. Piroe (90’+5)

Venue: Elland Road Attendance: 36,432

Can you believe another season starts, early August, with the Euro’s only finishing last month too..

Let’s see what this season brings and with a lack of out and out striker, will that be our failing again?

Brenden Aaronson rescued a dramatic late opening-day point for Leeds United as they were pushed to the wire by Championship newcomers Portsmouth.

Pascal Struijk gave the hosts the lead from the spot after Daniel James was brought down but Pompey levelled through Elias Sorensen soon after.

Portsmouth took the lead into the break in impressive fashion as Callum Lang drilled home from long range but Willy Gnonto levelled for Leeds a minute into the second half.

Pompey were awarded a stoppage-time spot-kick when Jayden Bogle brought down Christian Saydee, leading to Lang slotting in a 92nd-minute penalty but Aaronson’s low shot ensured the hosts earned a point.

It was a miserable start at Elland Road for Pompey, who were making their return to the Championship for the first time since 2012.

Leeds dominated the opening stages and should have taken the lead when Gnonto and Ethan Ampadu both hit the post from close range within minutes of each other.

They then went ahead on 10 minutes as Struijk calmly dispatched his spot-kick into the bottom left-hand corner after Connor Ogilvie had fouled James.

The hosts’ advantage did not last for long however, as Portsmouth captain Marlon Pack sent a neat through ball to Sorensen, whose shot cannoned in off Leeds keeper Illan Meslier’s palm.

Despite Leeds controlling much of the opening half, they trailed heading into half-time as a free-kick was poorly cleared by the hosts, leading to Lang picking up possession, taking a touch and sending a rifled shot home past a diving Meslier.

Leeds atoned, however, as Gnonto picked up the ball and made a run into the Portsmouth box, slotting in low past Will Norris.

An already dramatic fixture kept on giving and a frantic stoppage time followed, with Lang easily slotting in his penalty – although replays suggested Bogle’s challenge on Saydee may have originated outside the box.

Undeterred, Leeds fought back and, in the fifth minute of added time Aaronson fired in an emphatic equaliser – then should have won it with one of the final kicks of the match but dragged his close-range shot the wrong side of the left-hand post.

A point is better than none, especially for a home game, though you need to win most of your home games.

We need to get back up this season, otherwise it will be a long time before we do, as more players will want to leave.

Marching On Together.

League position 10th after 1 game – After 1 games last season, Leeds were 10th.

The curse struck again!! Why do we fail at the last hurdle?

Southampton 1 – Leeds United 0 – HT 1-0

A. Armstrong, (24′)

Assist

W. Smallbone (24′)

Saints’ 11-year spell in the top flight came to an end after a wretched campaign last time out but, despite finishing one place and three points behind Leeds in fourth, it is they who join Leicester and Ipswich in going up.

Adam Armstrong scored the decisive goal with a clinical finish after being put clear by Will Smallbone.

Leeds substitute Dan James clattered a bouncing ball against the crossbar late on as they pushed for an equaliser but Russell Martin’s men saw out almost 12 minutes of time added on.

Defeat for Leeds consigned them to another season in the Championship and meant they have now lost their past three finals at Wembley without scoring and been unsuccessful in all six of their play-off campaigns. What is it with finals and Leeds?  We won all 4 matches against the two sides who went up, but had a bad record against Southampton. The defeat against QPR in the run in was a major blow.

Saints’ promotion means that all three play-off finals this year were won by the team who had finished lower in the league table, with the team who had finished higher failing to score in all three.

German Farke said after the play-off win over his former side Norwich he would not have returned to England to take over any other Championship club than Leeds, having twice won the division with the Canaries.

He, like the thousands of Leeds fans at Wembley, will be left with recriminations from a day where his side didn’t get going until it was basically too late.

The Whites became the first second-tier side to accumulate 90 points and not go up automatically since Sunderland in 1997-98, with the Black Cats also beaten in that season’s play-off final.

Questions will now linger over the futures of Championship player of the season Summerville, teenage star Archie Gray and French forward Georginio Rutter.

With the backing of the 49ers Enterprises investment group, they should be well positioned to challenge again in 2024-25 but the nature of this defeat will sting.

This is my concern, we need to keep hold of the players mentioned above, and otherwise we will struggle to get back. We need a forward who can score 20 goals a season and a couple of other players to push for the automatic promotion spots.

Marching On Together.

Leeds United 4 – Norwich City 0 – HT 3-0 – (Agg 4-0)

I. Gruev, (7′)

J. Piroe, (20′)

G. Rutter, (40′)

C. Summerville, (68′)

Assists –

W. Gnonto, (20′)

J. Firpo, (68′)

What a performance!! What a night!! Come on Leeds.

Leeds United will play Southampton or West Bromwich Albion in the Championship play-off final after a thumping win over an outclassed Norwich.

Backed by a vociferous home support, Leeds set about their opponent’s right from the get-go

After a drab stalemate in the first leg on Sunday, the home side, who finished three places and 17 points above the Canaries, took a deserved early lead when Ilia Gruev’s long-range free-kick beat Angus Gunn at his near post.

Joel Piroe made it 2-0 when he headed in Willy Gnonto’s deep cross to the far post, with keeper Gunn caught in no man’s land, to leave the away side with a mountain to climb.

They should have pulled one back immediately but Josh Sargent was thwarted by keeper Illan Meslier one-on-one in what proved to be the only chance of note Norwich had all night.

It was 3-0 before the break when Georginio Rutter crashed a shot in off the underside of the bar after a breakaway attack.

Crysencio Summerville tapped home a fourth for the dominant home side after the interval after Gunn had parried a Gnonto shot out to Junior Firpo, who squared for the Dutchman to roll home.

The Whites will now have nine days to prepare for the play-off final at Wembley on Sunday, 26 May as they look to secure an immediate return to the Premier League.

Now we need to take that performance to the final and break our play-off curse.

Marching On Together.

Norwich City 0 – Leeds United 0 – HT 0-0

So the play-off start, can we get over the play-off curse?

Norwich and Leeds fought out a tense, cagey, goalless draw in the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final.

Neither side fashioned many scoring chances at Carrow Road and the place in the Wembley final on 26 May will be decided in the second leg at Elland Road on Thursday.

Both teams limped into the play-offs, with Norwich winning just two of their final seven league games to scrape into sixth while Leeds managed just two wins in eight to blow their chances of going up automatically.

That poor form was reflected in a cautious approach by both sides with the Canaries’ Gabriel Sara and Leeds’ Sam Byram fluffing the two best chances in a game of few scoring opportunities.

Leeds’ poor form forced manager Daniel Farke into an unexpected change with Archie Gray replacing striker Joel Piroe, meaning a forward role for Georginio Rutter, while Jonathan Rowe boosted Norwich with his first start since January following injury problems.

Not surprising the 1st leg was tight, at least we haven’t conceded and will hope the 12th man (Leeds crowd) will get us over this hurdle and into the final.

Marching On Together.

Leeds United 1 Southampton 2 – HT 1-2

J. Piroe, (21′)      A. Armstrong, (18′) W. Smallbone, (35′)

Assists –

                              C. Adams (18′), K. Walker-Peters (35′)

Not the way we would wanted to finish the season, especially at home and against team we could meet in the play-off final.

Leeds will play Norwich City in the Championship play-offs and Southampton will take on West Brom after the Saints claimed a deserved win at Elland Road.

The third-placed Whites went into the game knowing they had to win and Ipswich lose to all-but relegated Huddersfield to secure automatic promotion.

But the Tractor Boys’ victory over the Terriers means both these sides must go through the play-offs to return to the Premier League.

The visitors went in front when Adam Armstrong confidently converted Che Adams’ low cross first time but Leeds quickly levelled through Joel Piroe’s thumping finish from the edge of the area.

Will Smallbone put the away side back in front after superb play by Kyle Walker-Peters to keep the ball in down their right and then tee him up with a measured pass.

Southampton came into the game on the back of three straight losses but were good value for their first win here in West Yorkshire since March 2012.

This victory completed the double for Russell Martin’s men against Daniel Farke’s side, in what could potentially be a dress rehearsal for the Championship play-off final on Sunday, 26 May.

Just a few weeks ago this match had looked like it could potentially be a decider for an automatic promotion spot for either side.

However, Saints slipped to three defeats and Leeds lost at home for the first time against Blackburn three weeks ago before being battered 4-0 at QPR last Friday to go into today’s game in need of a miracle.

The Whites are looking to go up through the play-offs for the first time at the sixth time of asking, while Southampton have had one unsuccessful play-off campaign before.

So we finish 3rd which is such a disappointment, after the way we played this year, until the pressure must have got to us with 6 games to go, we looked like we would be promoted straight back and now have to break the play-off curse.

We finished with 90 points, the first second-tier side since Sunderland in 1998 to win 90 points or more and not go up automatically.

Marching On Together

League position 3rd after 46 games

Queens Park Rangers 4 – Leeds United 0 – HT 2-0

I. Chair, (8′)

L. Andersen, (22′)

L. Dykes, (73′)

S. Field, (86)

Assists –

J. Clarke-Salter (8′)

C. Willock (22′)

I. Chair (73′, 86′)

The season was not ending the way I wanted, the last 5 games have been terrible, and especially after the run we had from the start of the year, this game about summed up the last five games, a hammering of 4-0.

Queens Park Rangers secured their Championship survival in style with a stunning 4-0 win against Leeds – a result that sent Leicester up to the Premier League.

First-half goals from Ilias Chair and Lucas Andersen, followed by second-half headers from Lyndon Dykes and Sam Field, gave the Hoops a deserved win in their final home game of the season.

Hoops goalkeeper Asmir Begovic made big saves to deny Joel Piroe and Crysencio Summerville in the first half, but the home side never looked back after Chair’s early opener.

The defeat for second-placed Leeds hugely dents their hopes of automatic promotion and means Leicester return to the top flight at the first time of asking.

The Whites now look increasingly likely to have to settle for a play-off place with Ipswich one point behind with two games in hand.

But it was a night of elation for Marti Cifuentes’ Hoops who are now seven points clear of the drop zone and move up to 16th.

We have thrown away the chance of being promoted straight back up as I can’t see Ipswich failing to overtake us to claim 2nd place and meaning that were be in the play-off’s which we have a dreadful record in.

Marching On Together

League position 2nd after 45 games

Leeds United 3 – Hull City 1 – HT 1-1

Byram (9)           Carvalho (34)

Summerville (88 pen)

James (90+7)

It’s always more fun, blogging when your team win’s and were on a roll this year. Keep it up Leeds.

Late goals from Crysencio Summerville and Dan James – with a 40-yard finish – ensured Leeds United stayed in the Championship’s automatic promotion places after beating Hull City at Elland Road.

Sam Byram headed Leeds ahead after Summerville’s shot had been saved, but Hull drew level thanks to an excellent Fabio Carvalho finish.

Leeds missed some great chances before the break, while Hull posed a threat in the early part of the second half.

Mateo Joseph hit the Hull post with 12 minutes to go, but Leeds rallied and Summerville scored from the spot after he was fouled by Regan Slater – and following a disagreement with Joel Piroe about who should take the spot-kick.

James sealed victory in added time with a remarkable shot from just inside the Hull half after visiting keeper Ryan Allsop had gone up field for a corner and his net was left unguarded.

It’s getting tight at the top, only two points separating the top three teams, as we near the crunch end of the season. Only six games to go. COME ON LEEDS

We need to keep this good form going to finish in the top two as I don’t want us in the play-offs.

Marching On Together

League position 2nd after 40 games

Huddersfield Town 1 – Leeds United 1 – HT 1-0

Helik (45’+1)                   Bamford (67′)

What a run this has been since the start of 2024 and has put us in with a chance of getting one of two automatic promotion positions to return straight back to the Premiership, where we belong.

Patrick Bamford salvaged a point for Leeds United as their nine-match winning run came to an end in a feisty West Yorkshire derby against 10-man Huddersfield Town.

Bamford slid in the equaliser midway through the second half as persistent Leeds pressure finally broke stubborn Town resistance.

Crysencio Summerville hit the post in the closing stages as Daniel Farke’s side were unable to earn a victory and maintain a remarkable run which had seen them win every league game this calendar year.

The Terriers, seeking back-to back wins under new manager Andre Breitenreiter, scored in first-half injury time when top scorer Michal Helik knocked the ball home on the rebound from close range.

However, a deserved red card for captain Jonathan Hogg for a second yellow card left Town playing the entire second period a man down – and they were unable to hold firm for what would have been a fourth win in six games since Darren Moore was sacked as boss at the end of January. Two of those victories came under caretaker boss Jon Worthington.

But the draw against a Leeds side sweeping all before them felt every bit as good as those wins, judging by the jubilant scenes after an impressive performance full of grit and determination at a rainy John Smith’s Stadium.

For all their 79% possession, Leeds managed two shots on target, with the only one of the first half an early close-range effort by Summerville that was well blocked by keeper Lee Nicholls.

So 11 games left in the league, with Leicester struggling, hopefully we can carry on with this run and get promoted. Come on Leeds.

Marching On Together

League position 3rd after 35 games

Bristol City 0 – Leeds United 1 – HT 0-0

Gnonto (47′)

Assists

Bamford (47′)

Leeds United moved up to second in the Championship as they continued their fine form in 2024 with victory at Bristol City.

Wilfried Gnonto broke the deadlock early in the second half, firing in from just inside the box, with only his second goal of the season and on his first league start since 29 December.

Bristol City goalkeeper Max O’Leary made a number of key saves in the first half to keep his side in the game, including denying Georginio Rutter from a few yards out.

Glen Kamara came closest to doubling the tally for Leeds minutes after Gnonto’s goal, but saw his shot trickle wide.

Leeds keeper Illan Meslier by comparison had little to do all night as out of form Bristol City’s winless league run stretched to six games, while Daniel Farke’s side have won five in a row.

Leeds last won five successive league matches in July 2020, the season where they won promotion to the Premier League.

Their victory at Ashton Gate moves them up from fourth into the automatic promotion places for the first time this campaign, ahead of Ipswich and Southampton who both play on Saturday.

What a start we have had to 2024, hopefully as mentioned above, we do as we did in 2020 and get promoted back to the Premier League.

1^st time we have been in the top 2, but want to be there after 46 games.

As well as this winning run in 2024, we are not conceding, so building up a good goal difference, we could be crucial come the end of the season.

Keep going Leeds.

Marching On Together

League position 2nd after 30 games

West Bromwich Albion 1 Leeds United 0 – HT 1-0

Diangana (37)

Friday was not a good night, with Leeds losing to one of their closest rivals for promotion.

Grady Diangana’s goal saw West Bromwich move within three points of fourth-placed Leeds in the Championship with a 1-0 win over the Yorkshire side at The Hawthorns.

The DR Congo midfielder struck in the first half of a tight, breathless affair against a Leeds side who now have just one win in their past five games.

Whites manager Daniel Farke switched to three at the back on the hour mark in a bid to prise open a determined Baggies defence but, despite a late siege of the opposition goal, they could find no way through.

The home side could have won by more as Djed Spence kicked a Cedric Kipre shot off the line, although Leeds were denied a strong penalty claim when Kipre appeared to pull down Willy Gnonto as he shaped to shoot inside the box.

Both sides have been in stuttering form in December, but West Brom’s 1-0 win over Norwich on Tuesday hinted at their improvement, while Leeds fell to defeat at Preston as they watched the top three of Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton start to move further clear of them.

As mentioned above, December as not been a great month for Leeds, and we need to pick up in the New Year, as were now 9 points behind Ipswich who are in 2nd place for the automatic promotion spot.

Marching On Together

League position 4th after 25 games