Leeds United 1-0 Crystal Palace - Adam Forshaw and Marcelo Bielsa's good day, Rodrigo, Angus Kinnear and Christian Benteke's bad day - YEP 1/12/21
Leeds United needed that win over Crystal Palace oh so badly but they had to work hard for it.
By Graham Smyth
Here is the YEP take on the heroes and villains of an
intense night at Elland Road.
GOOD DAY
Adam Forshaw
He couldn't do his job for two years, or at least the bits
of it that make it his dream job. Watching him take in the applause from fans
before the game as he warmed up, it was obvious that he's entirely present,
living in the moment and not taking it for granted. When the game started, he
took another huge step forward in what is still very much a comeback. Despite
running further than any other player at Brighton on Saturday night he gave
everything on Tuesday night against Palace and still looked to have energy to
spare. What makes him so vital to Leeds is the way he takes care of the ball.
They'd been missing that badly. And for all the talk of the player Conor
Gallagher could have been for Leeds, it wasn't the Palace midfield who won the
day.
Tyler Roberts
His presence in the starting line-up was met with a
predictable response on social media and although he couldn't add a goal or
assist to his game he ran his socks off, helped Leeds tremendously and went off
to an ovation that was deserved.
Marcelo Bielsa
It has been a difficult period for the Leeds boss and that
win was a huge relief. Bielsa has come under fire at various stages of his time
at Leeds, often quite unreasonably, but there's no doubt it has been a struggle
to get the team playing as they can this season. A win, a clean sheet and a
better performance. Just the tonic.
The verdict is in… #lufc https://t.co/0SvjneE99W
— Leeds United News (@LeedsUnitedYEP) December 1, 2021
Kalvin Phillips
Rift? What rift? A performance of grit and determination.
That tackle on Gallagher was a beauty and it set the tone. His post-match
interview was timely and perfectly put.
Daniel James
It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of
the fight in the dog. James was kicking all round him, in a good way. An
intense performance that should have been capped with an assist.
Charlie Cresswell
It will not have mattered that he only came on for a very
short amount of time, what will have mattered most to Charlie Cresswell is that
when Bielsa needed someone he could trust to defend any last-gasp Palace
attacks, he called for the youngster. Securing the win and the clean sheet was
vital and to be answer for Leeds would fill any player with confidence. Being
on the pitch at the final whistle for the celebrations was a nice reward.
BAD DAY
Rodrigo
His performance wasn't that bad, but his miss was. Goals are
so helpful to Rodrigo's confidence and form, and Leeds are in desperate need of
them so that moment in the second half was haunting.
Christian Benteke
Proved more than a handful but couldn't finish one of his
chances. Watching Illan Meslier somehow claw the ball off the line looked
agonising for the striker. The header was a glaring miss and a massive let-off
for Leeds. Had it gone in it would have changed the complexion of things
completely and shone a very different light on Leeds' performance. The winners
write history, though.
Wilfried Zaha
His battle with Dallas and the number of times the Ulsterman
got the better of him left him more than a little grumpy. When Benteke headed
his wonderful cross wide, that made him even grumpier.
Angus Kinnear
It's quite the feat to have the country talking about Leeds
before a ball is even kicked on a matchday. His programme notes were always
going to be a talking point but the comparison he made was headline stealing
and felt unwise, at best.
OFF-CAMERA MOMENTS
There's comfort in routine and before the game you always
see the same things. Phillips staying out longer than his team-mates as the
warm-up ended to try his luck at an empty goal from 40 yards. Forshaw's wave to
his family in the stand as the teams lined up before kick-off. Dallas fetching
a water bottle to place just off the pitch in the right-back position. Those
moments are nice to see, a little familiarity at a time when Leeds aren't
looking exactly themselves. There are also moments you don't often see that
gladden the heart. Pascal Struijk driving a shot at an empty goal towards the
end of the warm up, striking the ball sweetly but entirely without accuracy,
straight into a photographer and his tripod was one of those. No injuries, all
smiles, an apologetic wave.
When all of Elland Road was losing its mind in the wake of
Raphinha's penalty, the Leeds bench were taking action to secure victory,
sending for Charlie Cresswell who was warming up. The urgency in the Leeds
technical area showed that while relief was coursing through their veins, heads
were sufficiently clear to make big decisions.