Leeds rely on unlikely hero to strike key blow in relegation battle - Independent 25/2/23

-


Leeds 0-1 Southampton: Junior Firpo’s goal ensured Javi Gracia enjoyed the perfect start to life as Leeds boss

Mark Walker

Junior Firpo struck a second-half winner as Leeds beat Premier League relegation rivals Southampton 1-0 to climb out of the bottom three.

Left-back Firpo’s first top-flight goal halted Leeds’ 10-game winless league run and ensured a winning start for new boss Javi Gracia in his first game in charge.

Leeds appointed former Watford manager Gracia on Tuesday after last week’s defeat at Everton left them in the relegation zone and his side responded with their first league win since November.

There had been the prospect of Leeds’ former boss Jesse Marsch returning to Elland Road in charge of Southampton for this key relegation match.

But talks between the south-coast club and the American broke down last week and the Saints then won at Chelsea before appointing interim boss Ruben Selles until the summer.

Leeds had slipped into the bottom three after a dismal display at Everton last week and the first-half action was typical of a crunch relegation encounter.

The home side were roared on by an anxious full house and it was they who forced the issue. But for all their huffing and puffing they rarely threatened Southampton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu.

Brenden Aaronson and Jack Harrison pulled efforts wide after promising moves for Leeds, while Stuart Armstrong fluffed the Saints’ best chance after cutting past Luke Ayling into the penalty area.

Saints striker Paul Onuachu forced Illan Meslier into the game’s first real save with a curling shot in the 39th minute and Leeds midfielder Weston McKennie blazed over from 12 yards out.

Leeds’ loud appeals for a penalty were ignored by referee Peter Bankes inside the opening minute of the second period after Patrick Bamford went to ground under Jan Bednarek’s challenge.

The home faithful increased the volume as Leeds pinned the visitors in their own half, but Southampton remained organised and dogged opposition.

James Ward-Prowse, who equalled Jason Dodd’s record of 329 Premier League appearances for Southampton, fired straight at Meslier to relieve some of the pressure.

Saints substitute Kyle Walker-Peters summed up his side’s collective spirit moments after stepping into the action when blocking Crysencio Summerville’s shot inside the penalty area.

But Saints’ stubborn defence was finally breached in the 77th minute. Harrison’s clever backheel set Firpo free in the area and the left-back scored his first Premier League goal by squeezing a low shot under Bazunu.

Summerville spurned a chance to kill the game in added time when he fired wide, but Leeds held on to send Southampton to a 16th league defeat of the season and winless at Elland Road since 1998.

Popular posts from this blog

The huge initial fee Leeds are set to receive for Crysencio Summerville’s move to West Ham — Leeds United News 31/7/24

-
Will Butcher West Ham United are closing in on a deal to sign Crysencio Summerville from Leeds United, and Ben Jacobs has shared how much Leeds will receive for the Dutchman. The 22-year-old has been strongly linked with the Elland Road exit door all summer and was targeted as the one big sale Leeds needed to make before the Profit & Sustainability Rules deadline this month. But instead, Leeds sold Archie Gray for £40m to Tottenham. Leeds have since sold five more players in the form of Diego Llorente, Marc Roca, Kris Klaesson and Charlie Cresswell – raking in around £60m in total. But more exits were always likely and Fabrizio Romano reported on Wednesday afternoon that West Ham had agreed personal terms with Summerville, and talks for a fee were ongoing with the Yorkshire side. Now, the story has moved on with multiple sources claiming a deal is done between Leeds and Angus Kinnear’s old club. The Dutchman is expected to sign a five-year at the London Stadium, until Jun...
Read more

Leeds United board break silence after transfer window with statement on upcoming Elland Road development — YEP 2/9/24

-
By Joe Donnohue Leeds United have confirmed supporters' commemorative stones at Elland Road's Centenary Square will be replaced free of charge in a bid to improve their longevity. Beginning next month, Leeds supporters' personalised stones will be replaced with exact replicas, courtesy of a new company, to ensure of a 'much better quality' installation. The work is expected to take around two months to complete. An official club statement confirmed 'three larger stones dedicated to former managers Don Revie, Howard Wilkinson and Marcelo Bielsa' will also be installed, 'similar to those located in Bremner Square', while additional space for supporters to purchase new stones has also been factored into the project. “The club have taken on board recent feedback from supporters on the stones at Centenary Square, and we are really happy that we can now announce that all of the stones will be replaced," chief executive Angus Kinnear confirmed,...
Read more

Leeds United transfer state of play as Whites knock back low bid and assert wing pair stance — YEP 3/7/24

-
By Graham Smyth Leeds United are not actively looking to cash in on Crysencio Summerville and Willy Gnonto and believe any further outgoing transfer business will be done on their terms. The Whites, who sold Archie Gray to Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday for £40m, expect that there will be continued interest in wing pair Summerville and Gnonto as the summer transfer window progresses. Summerville has been a target for Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion but their interest has not yet materialised into a bid. The Albion did, however, send a £30m proposal for Georginio Rutter, which Elland Road chiefs rejected. Rutter is not expected to try and force an exit this summer and appears settled at Leeds after a far more positive second season in English football. The sale of Gray has helped put Leeds into a position where they do not need to sell star players and can dictate any moves that do happen. Club sources say they are not actively looking to sell the likes of Summerville o...
Read more