Brentford 1 – Leeds United 2 – HT 0-0
Canós (78′) — Raphinha (56’pen), Harrison (90’+4)
Assists –
Wissa (78′)
Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch said it took everything he had to keep the Elland Road club in the Premier League.
Marsch replaced much-loved Marcelo Bielsa as Leeds boss with 12 games of a troubled campaign remaining and achieved his aim of avoiding relegation with a last-day victory at Brentford.
Jack Harrison’s added-time winner removed any lingering doubts over survival, sparking scenes of celebration on the pitch, in the stands and the technical area, where the American manager lay on his back in jubilation. Please note no Leeds fans went on the pitch, considering what had gone on at other grounds recently.
Marsch said he could offer no guarantees about the future of any of his players, including England midfielder Kalvin Phillips and Brazil winger Raphinha, who opened the scoring with a well-taken second-half penalty.
Leeds started the day needing to better Burnley’s result to survive.
The result meant Leeds became the first side since Wigan in 2011 to survive after starting the final day in the bottom three.
Even after Raphinha had kept his nerve to find the net after he had been chopped down by Brentford keeper David Raya, Leeds fan still did not allow themselves to believe the escape act was on.
Canos duly brought them down to earth with his equaliser but he was booked for his celebration and then followed that up by fouling Raphinha, which wrecked Brentford’s chances of turning the game around.
Leeds’s safety was ensured when Harrison drilled home the winner.
I have to be honest, with our record against Brentford, I was really surprised with this result and that we stayed up. As mentioned above, first team in 11 years to start in the relegation zone on the last day and stay up!!
Hopefully we can keep our top players and bring some new players in, as we can’t rely on just one centre forward to score goals and don’t want to be in this position next season.
League position 17th after 38 games – After 38 games last season, Leeds were 9th.
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