Leeds United man takes big step in right direction, touchline jokes and off-camera Millwall moments — YEP 9/2/25
By Graham Smyth
The YEP’s take and off-camera moments from Leeds United’s
defeat to Millwall in the FA Cup.
Leeds United are out of the FA Cup thanks to a lacklustre
and disjointed performance from a side boasting 10 changes against Millwall.
Elland Road always expects but the response to defeat by the
Lions felt more like a collective shrug than a howl of anguish, given the main
objective this season.
But a week on from one of the stadium's best attacking
performances in years and a seven-goal hammering of Cardiff, a much-changed
Leeds side struggled to provide much in the way to cheer about. Here's the YEP
take.
Good day
Sam Chambers
A full senior debut and it was a lively one, too. He showed
a willingness to get at Millwall, created danger and could have got himself on
the scoresheet, twice. Even if he didn't find the net, he made something happen
and could come off the pitch feeling like he'd been a factor.
Pascal Struijk
The central defender got 90 minutes and took another big
step in the right direction towards a return to the starting line-up in the
Championship. With Struijk back next to Joe Rodon, Daniel Farke could return
Ethan Ampadu to the centre of midfield. It wasn't a sparkling performance,
though, and he did miss a penalty.
Bad day
Ethan Ampadu
The captain was the only man to stay in the starting line-up
after the win at Coventry but he did not produce a leader's display. His
defending for the first goal was poor and he didn't do enough to stop the shot
for the second. In between there was an error of judgement that was only saved
by the woodwork.
Mateo Joseph
Elland Road's groans said it all. This was a big chance for
the youngster to shine, a week on from ending his goalscoring drought with that
finish against Cardiff City. But it was another chance missed. Joseph's link-up
play was poor, he gave the ball away cheaply and regularly and in a team
performance that was disjointed he struggled to make himself a factor.
Josuha Guilavogui
The Frenchman looked ungainly and unnatural when trying to
pull the strings in midfield and then very nearly picked up a red card. Quite
how he got away with only a yellow is anyone's guess.
The officials
The Guilavogui tackle and the Gnonto penalty were just cause
for Alex Neil and his team to be frustrated. To Neil's credit he made little of
it, but it helps when you win.
Off-camera moments
A former international footballer, on media duty, nodding at
Junior Firpo's Bentley in the West Stand carpark and dryly noting: "Not
bad that, for a left-back."
Teenager Sam Chambers showing no signs of nerves as he
coolly slotted past Alex Cairns in the warm-up.
The police moving in, in numbers, to try and keep a lid on
things off the field as tragedy chanting was heard from the away end. Police
were seen increasing their presence to support stewards in both the South and
West Stands.
Willy Gnonto applauding Chambers after playing the youngster
into space on the right only for him to concede a free-kick, encouraging him to
continue with that kind of movement.
Alex Neil enjoying a joke with Isaac Schmidt as the
full-back prepared to take a throw from next to the Millwall technical area.
The Lions boss not enjoying a blatant Millwall throw in
being awarded to Leeds, purely on the basis of Mateo Joseph's body language
conning the officials.
Japhet Tanganga hopping with rage as a needless offside cost
his team an opportunity at 1-0 up in the second half.
Fitness coach Chris Domogalla running down the West Stand to
tell a trio of subs to warm up with a bit more vigour. Tanaka then led that
trio sprinting back to the dugout, taking off his jacket before he'd even
reached the Millwall technical area.
Manor Solomon and Neil sharing a laugh about the winger's
complaints to referee Gavin Ward over what he felt was a foul.