A huge win. A signal of intent. Leeds United are not going anywhere and they proved it last night with a massive 4-3 victory over Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough away from home, to back into second.
Against Coventry, Sunderland and Blackburn – in which Leeds picked up only a point and suffered two losses – the squad looked nervous. Tired, under the weight of expectation and hope of getting promotion.
On Monday night, it looked as if it might be the same story after 10 minutes. Isaiah Jones handing Boro the lead. But it provoked a different reaction out of Leeds – and they replied, Georgi Rutter turning up.
He won a penalty, and Crysencio Summerville scored the first of two goals on the night. Patrick Bamford made it 2-1, and after Boro scored an equaliser, Willy Gnonto was on hand to reinstate our lead, 3-2.
Billy Sharp raves about Leeds star, Stewart Downing comparison
In the second half, Leeds sat back and looked to counter Boro – and it worked, initially. Bamford shared that at half-time, hitting Carrick’s men on the counter was the plan. Summerville scored his 20th of 23-24.
With Leeds cruising to victory, Emmanuel Latte Lath scored out of nowhere to make it 4-3 and set up a nervy last few minutes – but Leeds held on. A huge three points to go back into second place in the table.
Billy Sharp was in the Sky Sports studio alongside former Boro star, and Leeds U21 assistant manager Stewart Downing. He compared Junior Firpo’s cross for Bamford, to something Downing used to do.
“The ball is unbelievable, very much like Stewart Downing. I think the keeper has got to do better but then Patrick Bamford does very well just to get something on it,” Sharp said, in his analysis on Sky Sports.
Big concern hits Leeds ahead of Friday night clash against QPR
It wasn’t all good news for Leeds last night. Dan James came off the bench late on and missed a golden chance to score for the Whites, dallying on a chance before a Middlesborugh defender tackled him.
It seems the Welsh winger’s difficult last couple of months have just got worse, with the former Swansea ace picking up a muscle injury. It might be that he is sidelined for Friday’s clash against QPR in London.
With only two games left to play, the chances are he could be out for the rest of the season. However, should Leeds go into the play-offs, that might mean he could return. Hopefully, it won’t come to that.