Mighty Leeds Weblog

Raphinha bagged a 93rd-minute penalty to send Elland Road wild and give Leeds United a 1-0 victory against Tuesday night's Premier League visitors Crystal Palace. By Lee Sobot Three days after Saturday evening's goalless draw at Brighton, Leeds were heading for another 0-0 but the Whites were awarded a 91st-minute penalty after Marc Guehi blocked Liam Cooper's header from a corner with his arm. After the intervention of VAR, referee Kevin Friend eventually pointed to the spot and Raphinha coolly converted to give Marcelo Bielsa's side their third win of the season, taking Leeds up to 15th and five points clear of the drop zone. Leeds began brightly at a noisy Elland Road and Dan James saw two fierce shots blocked, the first of them after a good through ball from Tyler Roberts. Raphinha then saw a curler from the edge of the box deflected over as United piled on the pressure, Raphinha then playing Stuart Dallas whose powerful low cross was scrambled clear. Pa

Leeds United secured a dramatic three points on Tuesday night as they toppled Crystal Palace 1-0 thanks to a Raphinha penalty in injury-time - here's what supporters had to say. By Joe Urquhart @LiamRiches4 I don't care how we got it. THAT. WIN. WAS. MASSIVE!!! #LUFC @Longthorne90 See, the desire there was 100% . A touch more clinical up front we will steamroll teams. Thats the leeds we know #lufc @Rich401_ We desperately needed that, and I do think we played well in quite large parts too. This season will kill me I swear #lufc @BrowneyBrowne Forshaw (or Xavi), was immense. How is he playing at that level after 2 years out #lufc @LeedsInShetland GETTTTT INNNNN!!!! That was a long old game that should have been dealt with in the first half, but we don't stop, we don't give in, no matter how often the opposition cheats. 3 Points are very, very welcome! #lufc @JamieMcEvoy Raphinha is an absolutely sensational footballer. £120 million prizes him away from #LUF

 

Leeds United snatched a late win over Crystal Palace thanks to an injury-time penalty from Raphinha. The hosts were awarded a 91st-minute penalty when Eagles defender Marc Guehi was adjudged to have handled the ball, with the decision confirmed after a Video Assistant Referee check and referee Kevin Friend watching the incident on a pitch-side screen. Palace should have taken the lead when it was goalless but Christian Benteke headed wide from inside the six-yard box. Benteke also had another chance late on when he got his foot to a long ball forward, but Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier managed to gather the ball just before it crossed the goalline. Leeds' win was only their fourth in the Premier League this season and moved them up from 17th to 15th. It was a dramatic finish to a match that was frantic throughout, played in wet and windy conditions at a packed and passionate Elland Road. In injury time, Leeds had a corner from the left which was headed goalwards by capt

Aaron Bower at Elland Road Raphinha’s injury-time penalty secured a potentially priceless Premier League victory for Leeds United against Crystal Palace on a night when it looked as though their profligacy in front of goal without Patrick Bamford would come back to haunt them once again. Marcelo Bielsa’s side had dominated the majority of this contest against a Palace side, who could have gone seventh with a win of their own. But chance after chance came and went without the deadlock being broken, and it looked as though Bielsa and Leeds would have to settle for a point. That was before Cheikhou Kouyaté handled in the Palace area, and Raphinha, Leeds’ best player on the night, coolly sent Vicente Guaita the wrong way to move Leeds further clear of the bottom three. There was certainly no shortage of endeavour from the hosts in the early exchanges. Leeds dominated possession and had the better of the chances but, perhaps symptomatic of their season to date, could not capitalise on

Good evening and welcome to another sold-out Elland Road. The quality shown for 90 minutes against Leicester City and in the first 45 minutes at Spurs, plus the resilience shown in a less than convincing performance at Brighton, should be enough for all of us to believe we have the capability to soon return to winning ways. However, although the squad has always appreciated the challenges of the second Premier League season, there is an acceptance that we need to be more consistent to reach our high internal standards and, most importantly, that results need to follow. At the time of writing both Patrick Bamford and Luke Ayling are due to make returns to the Under-23s and Robin Koch is making steady progress which will hopefully return us to the full first-team contingent that we have, as yet, been unable to field this season. In the meantime, it is essential that the team’s belief is shared by supporters. We must not let the unity that has been a pillar of Marcelo’s reign be compr

Patrick Bamford and Luke Ayling handed Leeds United a major boost upon their return to action from injury. By Joe Urquhart The first team pair have been notable absentees from head coach Marcelo Bielsa' s senior squad since mid September following the Whites draw at Newcastle United. Bamford - who has one goal and two assists in five league games this term - suffered ligament damage in his foot against the Magpies while Ayling required surgery on a knee issue from the same game. The injuries picked up at St James' Park has resulted in the duo missing United's last eight Premier League outings having spent the best part of 10 weeks sidelined. Bielsa is finally seeing his Thorp Arch injury crisis begin to ease somewhat after the return of Raphinha, Rodrigo and Jamie Shackleton in the 0-0 draw at Brighton on Saturday. Last season's top goalscorer Bamford and first choice right-back Ayling are the two latest players to re-emerge from the treatment room. Both B

Here are the full time player ratings from Leeds United U23s' 3-2 defeat to Manchester City U23s Leeds United visited Manchester City's state-of-the-art academy facilities on Monday night for their latest outing in PL2 Division 1. Up against a team boasting England youth internationals Cole Palmer and James McAtee, Leeds fought well, naming a strong starting XI which included returning first Patrick Bamford and Luke Ayling. The Whites went ahead through Sam Greenwood's well-taken spot-kick just before half-time, but were pegged back two minutes after the restart. Leeds went in front again, Greenwood striking low once more, after Romeo Lavia had been sent off for the hosts. James McAtee drew level with a special finish, dummying past Leeds' central defenders and in the final minute of normal time, a lucky bounce of the ball allowed Cole Palmer to slot into an empty net. Leeds were ultimately defeated again, but not for the want of trying. Kristoffer Klaesso

LEEDS UNITED head coach Marcelo Bielsa insists there are no issues or 'difficulty' with Kalvin Phillips following his decision to substitute the England international in Saturday's Premier League game at Brighton. By Leon Wobschall Phillips was deployed at centre-back rather than his usual position in midfield and was brought off at the break and replaced by Pascal Struijk. It prompted TV pundit Jamie Redknapp to suggest that 'something is not quite right' between Phillips and Bielsa after the match. Phillips featured in a back three in the previous game at Tottenham last weekend and commented that he was not sure about the reasoning why when interviewed after the game. Asked by journalists about the future of Phillips, Bielsa, whose side welcome Crystal Palace on Tuesday night, said: "Kalvin Phillips is an idol for the Leeds United fans and a popular property with a lot of affection. "We all have to look after the affection of (Phillips) and o

Marcelo Bielsa has spoken to the media prior to his side taking on Crystal Palace at Elland Road on Tuesday night (8.15pm). The Whites go into the game off the back of a point on the road and a clean sheet at Brighton, whilst also being unbeaten in their last three matches on home turf. Bielsa provided a fitness update on the squad ahead of the match, with positive news coming from the Leeds United head coach. He said: “With respect to the injuries, Patrick Bamford and Luke Ayling are going to play with the Under 23s today [against Manchester City]. “The recovery of Robin Koch is on the programme as scheduled, and with respect to Kalvin Phillips, he is available for the game tomorrow. “As I said in the declarations after the game against Brighton, Jamie Shackleton and Pascal Struijk coming on were to do with improving how the team was playing.” Under new boss Patrick Vieira, the Eagles are currently 11th in the Premier League table. Bielsa praised his opposite number on how

At the end of an arduous journey, Leeds United fans watched an even more arduous game. A 0-0 draw was not what they came to Brighton and Hove Albion for, even if it was more than the performance deserved. By Stuart Rayner Now, though, comes a huge week. Consecutive home games against Crystal Palace and Brentford – much more winnable than the rest of a devilishly difficult December, are only half of it. Bottom-of-the-table Newcastle United also have consecutive home games and theirs are against the other sides in the relegation zone. Burnley and Norwich City are within striking distance of Leeds’s points. So what shape are the Whites going into it in? Take Kalvin Phillips, hobbling at the end of the first half and speaking to the medical staff when he came off at the interval – so when he did not return, we assumed that was why. “No. He’s not injured,” insisted coach Marcelo Bielsa. It added to the impression that all is not as it should be. Patrick Bamford and Luke Ayling

Tyler Roberts was handed half an hour from the Leeds United bench at Brighton and produced more danger than any of his Whites team mates in his short time on the pitch. By Lee Sobot Roberts was overlooked for a starting place in last Sunday's clash at Tottenham despite Leeds being without key attacking trio Patrick Bamford, Raphinha and Rodrigo as 19-year-old Joe Gelhardt instead started upfront. Gelhardt dazzled at Spurs and would have fully deserved keeping his place in the side for the clash at Brighton - even with Raphinha and Rodrigo returning - yet Dan James was selected to lead the line in the continued absence of Bamford who is now nearing a return from an ankle injury. With Rodrigo lining up in the no 10 role and flanked by Raphinha and Jack Harrison out wide, that meant both Gelhardt and Roberts sitting on the bench and it was Roberts who Whites head coach Marcelo Bielsa turned to in search of a different attacking option. Jamie Shackleton and Pascal Struijk wer

It wasn't pretty, it wasn't even fun really but it was a point on the road for Leeds United against a Brighton side who should really have won comfortably. By Graham Smyth The performance won't live long in the memory, not for the right reasons anyway, but there were one or two positives to take. GOOD DAY Adam Forshaw Continued to show how important he could be to the Leeds cause this season. Was still pressing and darting around right to the end. One of few Leeds players to look after the ball with any real care. Tyler Roberts He might not have stuck his chances away but at the very least Roberts gave Leeds an attacking presence that had been sorely lacking before his arrival. Got into good positions, made clever runs, created danger. For a much maligned player it was a brighter display and something to build on. BAD DAY Junior Firpo Got an absolute roasting from Tariq Lamptey and was dragged at half-time. In truth he was lucky not to be sent off given

At half-time at Brighton a point was a great result for Leeds United, but its real worth won't become clear for a week. By Graham Smyth In isolation it wasn't exactly what Marcelo Bielsa and the Whites needed, particularly when the performance is taken into consideration. Beating Crystal Palace and Brentford at home, however, would put Saturday's 0-0 draw at the Amex in a far kinder light and what happened in the first half could never be spoken of again. Taking seven points from nine is far easier said that done, though, and Leeds chances of doing it will be next to zero if they replicate what they did in the first half at Brighton. The game was another example of Leeds' inability to put together a 90-minute performance, as the team who played so brilliantly in the first half at Tottenham Hotspur failed to show up for kick-off on the south coast. And even though the second half was better, at least containing chances that might actually have allowed them to

Forshaw was at the heart of the Leeds midfield at the American Express Community Stadium, helping the Whites keep a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw in East Sussex. The 30-year-old gave his assessment of the match which saw the Leeds pick up a 12th point of the season. “It wasn’t our best game,” said Forshaw. “If you break it down though, it is a clean sheet away from home and another point on the board ahead of Tuesday’s game, so there are definitely positives. “Especially in the second half, we probably went long a bit more than we normally do as a team, maybe just wanting to get a result and we were a bit safe at times. “It’s a point on the board though and you’re not going to play well every week. “We played well against Tottenham Hotspur last week and didn’t get anything, so we will take it. “We stayed in the game, we’ve got lads coming back and close to being fit and we know we have the quality in the team to put a run together. “We train really hard, believe in our etho

Marcelo Bielsa hopes Leeds United's second half performance in the 0-0 draw at Brighton will give them a base to build from. By Graham Smyth The Whites were dominated by Graham Potter's men in the first 45 minutes at the Amex and were fortunate to go in at the break level. Neal Maupay was guilty of missing a golden chance, Tariq Lamptey caused Leeds untold problems down the right and Leandro Trossard was a menace as Leeds were given a torrid time of it. There was an improvement from Leeds in the second half and they came on strong towards the end, finally creating some decent chances that Tyler Roberts was unable to take. Bielsa took the events of the second half as a positive. "In the first half the differences were very big in their favour," he said. "In the second half we managed to play as equals, we defended better, we created chances, not too many but in proportion to the opponent. In the first half we didn't defend well, we conceded a lot o

Leeds United somehow survived a Brighton onslaught to take a goalless draw from Saturday evening's Premier League clash at the Amex. By Lee Sobot Brighton created a host of chances but paid the price for some wayward finishing as Leeds were also saved by the post three times. The Seagulls squandered a fine chance in the fourth minute when the excellent Tariq Lamptey delivered a fine cross for Jakub Moder who smashed a vicious volley narrowly over the bar. Junior Firpo was then booked in just the fifth minute for a late challenge on Lamptey and the Seagulls then missed a sitter in the eighth minute when Neal Maupay somehow skied a shot over from just six yards out after another Lamptey cross. After a sluggish start, Leeds threatened to get their act together and saw claims for a penalty waved away after Leandro Trossard caught Raphinha with a high challenge just inside the box. But Brighton were well on top and Trossard was denied by the frame of the goal in the 20th min

Brighton boss Graham Potter said he "disagreed completely" with fans who booed the team in their goalless Premier League draw with Leeds. The Seagulls hit the woodwork three times as their winless run stretched to nine games. Albion - who have never finished in the top half of the top flight - are eighth in the Premier League table. "I am a little bit perplexed to the reaction in the crowd at the end because the performance was fantastic against a team that like to dominate possession, like to out-run you - they didn't do that today," Potter said. "They are entitled to their opinions but I disagree with them completely. "We are sitting eighth in the Premier League but maybe I need a history lesson on this football club." In the first half, Illan Meslier tipped Leandro Trossard's shot on to the upright and Jakub Moder rifled the ball against the outside of the post from a tight angle. And late on Solly March's effort struck th

Jonathan Liew at the Amex Stadium Thirty-one shots, plenty of ambitious attacking football, a web of tactical intrigue, and no goals. The wind blew in off the English Channel, and the Amex howled and roared to keep out the cold, and yet still the ball refused to drop for either Brighton or Leeds, for whom an autumn of underachievement is threatening to give way to a winter of discontent. Brighton are now without a win in eight, and you don’t need to be as gifted a coach as Graham Potter to gauge where their problems lie. Chance after chance ended up trickling wide or disappearing into the stands, many of them from the boot or the shin of Neal Maupay. For their part, this was painfully thin stuff from Leeds, who for all their customary industry and their flick-book of formations still appear to be missing Patrick Bamford. For Brighton, a first half that began with such promise ended up feeling strangely deflating. The tactics were flawless, the movement off the ball was sharp, the

SOLID-GOLD footballing ability, class and charisma on and off the pitch with the matinee idol looks to match; Gary Speed was the man who had it all to Leeds United supporters. By Leon Wobschall Those present at Brighton later today will remember ‘Speedo’ on the 10th anniversary of his untimely passing and think of all those good, special times. And how good and special they were. Speed provided one such moment not too far away on the south coast in Southampton for instance, scoring two typically immaculate goals in a handsome 4-0 victory at the old Dell early on in that 1991-92 campaign when Leeds first served notice of what was to come in a season which ended in glory and a first top-flight title since 1973-74. Who can forget another win by the same margin and not think of Speed’s involvement a little earlier on Easter Monday in 1990 when Leeds saw off Sheffield United in an iconic fixture at Elland Road en route to promotion. That game, of course, prompted that legendary li