Leeds United 1 Harrogate Town 0: Scares survived, stars return and big crowd in FA Cup clash — YEP 11/1/25
By Lee Sobot
Leeds took on Harrogate Town at Elland Road in the FA Cup
third round.
Leeds United survived some big scares against a plucky
Harrogate Town side before booking their place in the FA Cup fourth round with
a nervy 1-0 victory in Saturday evening's third round clash at Elland Road.
Whites boss Daniel Farke made eight changes to his side but
still went with a strong XI and bench as Leeds met League Two neighbours Town
for the first time in a competitive game.
Farke’s men ultimately booked their place in Sunday’s fourth
round draw as Manor Solomon set up Largie Ramazani to score the only goal of
the game midway through the second half but progress was far from easy in front
of 35,584 fans at Elland Road.
Leeds immediately dominated possession but the Whites
appeared to get very lucky in the 13th minute as Town were denied what looked
like a penalty.
Playing as a centre-back, Josuha Guilavogui had already been
troubled on the break by Town striker Josh March who then got in behind the
Whites man and into the left side of the box.
Guilavogui had his hands on March's back as he raced away
from him and the Town player then tumbled to the ground but referee James Bell
waved play on despite March's appeals.
Leeds were soon back attacking but without creating any
golden opportunities, Town surviving several corners and crosses into the box
and keeper James Belshaw solid in between the sticks.
Leeds, though, were denied by the frame of the goal two
minutes before the interval as a low shot from Mateo Joseph squeezed past
keeper Belshaw but bounced back off the left hand post.
Daniel Farke's Whites immediately dominated possession again
upon the second half restart but Town threatened in the 51st minute with a
three on three counter.
Dean Cornelius was played in down the right of the Leeds box
but Pascal Struijk flew in to get a touch on his shot and Darlow was able to
save.
It was another narrow escape but Town were then saved by the
frame of the goal for a second time as Sam Byram teed up Manor Solomon whose
shot looking for the top right corner skimmed the bar before flying into the
Kop.
Town, though, again went close moments later after brilliant
pressing from Levi Sutton on Ethan Ampadu created a shooting chance for March
who was thwarted by a flying Karl Darlow save.
It proved another big moment as three minutes later Leeds
were in front in simple fashion, Solomon skinning Cornelius down the left and
sending in a perfect cross to set up Largie Ramazani who could not miss with a
free header a few yards out.
Leeds then quickly pressed for a second but Town continued
to carry a threat and a big block from Isaac Schmidt kept out a Toby Sims shot
from a tight angle from a free-kick.
With 13 minutes left, Junior Firpo made his return from
injury lay-off in replacing Sam Byram as the brightest spark Solomon also made
way for Dan James.
But Town yet again threatened in the 80th minute as March
again got in behind Guilavogui only to be thwarted by brave goalkeeping by
Darlow who flew at his feet to save, James Daly getting his attempt to net from
range on the rebound all wrong as Leeds survived.
United's lead remained a very delicate one although the
Whites continued to press for a second, Joseph firing narrowly over and James
denied by a good save from a tight angle by Belshaw after Joseph played him in
on the counter.
Joseph then fired another shot over the bar, after which
another Whites player returned from injury as Ilia Gruev replaced Gnonto.
Town were then given four minutes of added time to find an
equaliser and stoppage time looked set to pass without alarm.
Yet Simon Weaver’s side were given one last chance from a
94th-minute free-kick for which keeper Belshaw was sent up yet Leeds cleared,
Belshaw left stranded but Farke’s Whites unable to net on the counter.