Leeds United man's alternative gesture, technical area anger and off-camera Leicester moments — YEP 24/2/24
No one does nights under the lights quite like Leeds United and their Friday meeting with Leicester City was right up there.
By Graham Smyth
Archie Gray, for one, will not forget the events of a madcap
evening. The 17-year-old put the ball in the net on 83 minutes to spark mayhem
on all four sides of Elland Road, his big moment sandwiched by goals from
substitutes Connor Roberts and Patrick Bamford. The win narrowed the gap to the
leaders to six points and stretched Leeds' incredible winning run to nine
Championship games. Here's the YEP take.
Good day
Daniel Farke
Three goals that all came directly from his changes.
Substitutes Connor Roberts and Patrick Bamford both got on the scoresheet, the
latter from another replacement's free-kick, and Archie Gray forced an own goal
having moved to left-back late in the game.
This was not an easy game for Leeds and they could easily
have been 2-0 down. They struggled with Leicester's press and defensive shape
and looked vulnerable to counters, but they stayed in the fight and showed
exactly the right mentality in the later stages. That's what Farke has created
with this team.
Archie Gray
Those celebrations will live with him as long as he lives.
It's difficult to imagine, in fact, just what that moment will have meant to a
teenage Leeds lad from a Leeds United family. One to savour and a huge moment
in the game.
Georginio Rutter
The picture of persistence. If at first you don't succeed
and can't hang onto the ball, keep showing for it and fighting your way
forward. It was part skill, part belligerence that allowed Rutter to make a
difference in the final minutes.
Patrick Bamford
Came back earlier than expected from injury, came into the
game and changed it and got his name on the scoresheet with an incredible
intentional deflection. Not a bad substitute to have at your disposal,
especially when he's developing a knack of scoring with any old joint.
Ethan Ampadu.
A leader's performance. Drove Leeds forward with the ball at
his feet to try and solve Leicester's press. Showed no sign of letting up and
no sign of frustration or despondence. And defended for his life. What a season
he's having.
Bad day
Patson Daka
Woeful finishing when he could have put the game beyond
Leeds and secured three points to take back down the road to the Midlands. The
frustration was evident when he came off the pitch, substituted by Enzo
Maresca.
Bad day
Enzo Maresca. You can talk down the power of Elland Road all
you like, but it's a red rag to a bull. The same could be said of those
comments about it being a huge game for Leeds and just another game for
Leicester.
Off-camera
Ethan Ampadu geeing up the starting XI as they gathered for
a possession game towards the end of the warm-up.
Junior Firpo nutmegging Georginio Rutter, who flapped his
arms and muttered to himself as Willy Gnonto grinned.
Crysencio Summerville and Glen Kamara looking very relaxed
as they joked before doing battle again in the final game of the warm-up.
Summerville and Rutter, then Summerville and Gnonto doing
their handshake routines before kick.
Rutter pumping up his team-mates in the huddle as Ampadu
went to the centre circle for the coin toss.
Summerville remaining standing as the other players took the
knee, the Dutchman instead raising a fist.
Farke showing his frustration as Rutter gave the ball away
in the Leicester half, not for the first time.
The manager telling Gnonto to calm down after his slightly
late challenge on Dewsbury-Hall. The winger then went to remonstrate with his
opponent, who was writhing on the deck. Gnonto also had a word for Enzo
Maresca, who came over to offer his insight to referee Craig Pawson.
Ampadu making a case to the match officials as the two teams
went off at the break.
Archie Gray and Junior Firpo giving Summerville the benefit
of their wisdom as Leeds emerged for the second half.
Mads Hermansen having angry words with Piroe, or rather the
back of Piroe's head, after the attacker pressed him when Leeds had just given
the ball back to the visitors, following an injury stoppage for Patson Daka.
Firpo's angry reaction to being substituted.
Daka hurling his glove to the ground in the technical area
as he came off, having had the chance to bury the game with the score still 1-0
to the Foxes.
Gray and Rutter dancing around the Elland Road pitch at
full-time in joyous scenes.
Anthony laughing to the West Stand after winning a
stoppage-time free-kick right on the touchline.