Leeds United man a pale imitation, steward loses tussle and off-camera Southampton moments — YEP 5/5/24
Leeds United's season has been extended by at least another two games after they failed to beat Southampton and Ipswich Town beat Huddersfield Town.
By Graham Smyth
It would have been a miracle, had the Whites finished
Saturday afternoon with Premier League status, such was the size of the task
facing Huddersfield at Portman Road, but in the end Daniel Farke's men couldn't
hold up their end of the bargain either.
And the manner in which Leeds have crossed the finish line,
the way in which they trudged around Elland Road at full-time, suggests the
manager has an enormous job on his hands to lift them again and propel them
forward into a play-off match with Norwich City. Here's the YEP take.
Good day
Ipswich Town
They did their job, finished off an incredible season and
fully deserved the celebrations that ensued. From League One to the Premier
League in consecutive seasons is a remarkable achievement for Kieran McKenna
and his team. And for ex-Leeds left-back Leif Davis it's a story of redemption
following the decision by Leeds to let him go. He returns to the top flight
before they do.
Bad day
Referee Matthew Donohue
He managed to turn what ended up being a damp squib of a
game into one that threatened to boil over. Inconsistency, mistakes, a lack of
authority, soft yellows, incredible leniency for those already on yellows. It
was a bit of a mess.
Georginio Rutter
The creative assist machine is a pale imitation of himself
right now. Though he should have earned a penalty, Rutter was unable to offer
much at all to Leeds in an offensive sense. His decision making is suffering
due to his lack of confidence and in the second half it looked like his energy
had gone entirely. Farke has a big week to breathe some confidence into his
forward.
Junior Firpo
The left-back had to hold his hands up to errors for both
goals. He let the emotions get the better of him late in the second half, too,
and was so fortunate not to see red.
Off-camera moments
An announcement over the PA system asking stewards for more
urgency at their '90-minute positions' after the dress rehearsal as the club
put in the necessary precautions for a pitch invasion, in the event of a
miracle Saturday.
Connor Roberts purposefully striding into the stadium,
showing all the mobility of a man keen to taste Championship finale action.
Stuart Dallas on the touchline with Leeds staff during the
warm-up.
Assistant referee Richard Wild being consoled by colleagues
as he came off after their warm-up looking unhappy and in visible discomfort.
He was then replaced in the officials line-up by the fourth official, Leigh
Doughty.
Part-owner Pete Lowy engaged in a pre-match conversation by
a fan sitting in front of the directors' box in the West Stand. The
Australian's 93-year-old billionaire father was spotted at Elland Road too,
along with boardroom players in the 49ers Enterprises group.'
A steward in the West Stand attracting boos as he attempted
to confiscate an inflatable ring that had been passed around the stadium. Some
supporters took umbrage, wrestled him for it, won and then sent it in the
opposite direction. Though flushed, the steward allowed himself a wry smile as
he returned to the walkway above the lower tier of seats.
The West Stand making it clear they welcomed the
introduction of fresh legs on the hour mark, as a trio of subs raced back to
the technical area to get ready and go on.
Farke fuming with the officials after a series of first half
decisions.
Firpo and Kamaldeen having words off the ball after a coming
together late on.
Roberts and Harwood-Bells having a Burnley reunion at
full-time.
Karl Darlow having a chat with Alex McCarthy.
Elland Road, starting with the Kop, producing a Mexican Wave
of raucous support as the Leeds team walked around at full-time on a lap of the
stadium. It was hairs on the back of your neck standing up stuff.
