Leeds United man's special mascots, spiky manager chat, Ampadu's happy slap and off-camera moments — YEP 22/1/24
Leeds United roll into Wednesday’s Elland Road clash with Norwich City on the back of a four-game winning streak, thanks to Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Preston North End.
By Graham Smyth
The Whites had to put up with a stiff, physical test from
their visitors but exacted revenge for the Boxing Day Deepdale defeat, thanks
to Joel Piroe’s late, late penalty. Here’s the YEP take.
Good day: Ilia Gruev
The midfielder is seizing his moment and showing he is up to
the task even in the physical games. Gruev cuts a smaller, slighter figure than
the likes of Kalvin Phillips but put himself about against Preston and covered
a huge distance to get involved on and off the ball. Perhaps the biggest
compliment is that Leeds have not particularly missed Ethan Ampadu in the
centre and even when Glen Kamara was not at his absolute best on Saturday,
Gruev still shone.
Good day: Crysencio Summerville
Summerville might not ordinarily be considered as a natural
leader but the way he started the second half set the tone for Leeds. He
persisted and persisted, kept a lid on his temper as Preston stopped him the
only way they could, and continued to create danger right to the end. His
work-rate often goes unnoticed due to the end product he comes up with, but a
willingness to run all afternoon is hugely important in games like that one.
Good day: Joel Piroe
Talk about pressure. Just on the pitch as a substitute,
Piroe barely had time to get up to speed and settle in before facing a crucial
spot-kick. He'll hit better ones than that but he sent the keeper the wrong way
and won the game for Leeds. After a frustrating period in which he's lost his
place in the team, the goal visibly meant a lot to the Dutchman and it was huge
for his team. The celebrations, especially Bamford's obvious delight for Piroe,
showed how much the side value him.
Bad day: Ryan Lowe
Lowe looked like a man having a difficult afternoon for most
of his visit to Elland Road but his press conference afterwards, which was a
little spiky, betrayed just how annoyed he was. His take on the penalty and a
foul he had seen by Rodon in the build up earned him very little sympathy.
Suggesting that Preston had matched Leeds, when the hosts had hit the woodwork
and squandered far more chances from far more promising possession, was odd,
but managers under pressure will say what they need to say.
Off-camera
Junior Firpo having his kids with him as mascots, posing for
a photo out on the pitch and then running them back to his wife on the
touchline. He wasn't allowed to rejoin his team-mates until both youngsters had
given him a good luck cuddle. Ryan Lowe's first half fit of pique, grabbing the
ball and slamming it to the ground and remonstrating with one of his defenders.
The Preston boss was further annoyed when he booted a stray ball back onto the
pitch only to see that Meslier had fetched another, Rutter kicking Lowe's
effort into touch.
World darts champion Luke Humphries getting in the way of
the Preston subs doing their half-time warm-up but getting a pat on the back as
he went past with his trophy. The visitors were quite animated at the sight of
the recently-crowned world number one. The South Stand giving him his own Farke
wave moment as he hoisted the silverware towards them, having carted the
massive thing all the way around the pitch.
Bamford asking for the ballboys to hurry and get the ball
back to Cornell so Preston could restart the game, with the score at 1-1 and
half an hour remaining. Farke coming out to the touchline to gee Ampadu up with
13 minutes left. The manager going mad at Gray, who as the last man back had to
tidy up a situation and almost got himself into bother. Rodon racing to the
technical area to celebrate the winner with Firpo. Firpo coming out to yell at
players to get back into positions as Preston prepared for the restart. Rodon
roaring to the South Stand after winning a goal-kick.
A pitch invader sprinting to Meslier, slipping and almost
taking the keeper out as stewards finally caught up to tackle him. Ampadu
slapping the back of Piroe's head in celebration at full-time. Rutter joining
in with Marching on Together. Farke having a quick word with Gray as they
walked around the pitch to remind him to not get caught up in situations, like
the one where he remonstrated with Robby Brady.