Manor Solomon's defiant 8-word response to aggressive Sunderland approach after 'massive' Leeds United win — YEP 18/2/15
By Kyle Newbould
Leeds United's on loan winger was on the end of some fierce
challenges.
Manor Solomon sent a defiant message to those looking to
rattle Leeds United this season, insisting they ‘will not break’ him or his
teammates.
Solomon was on the rough end of several challenges on Monday
night, with Sunderland right-back Trai Hume taking a particular liking to the
on-loan Tottenham man. A particularly tough tackle left the Israel
international grounded and while it was fair, words uttered towards the injured
winger suggested there was a little more to it.
Sunderland received 11 yellow cards altogether, with three
of their starting back-four all booked - a scenario quite brilliantly predicted
on the YEP’s Inside Elland Road podcast. There was also a notable plan to rile
Leeds and their fans up, with Luke O’Nien particularly guilty after appearing
to mount Illan Meslier while goalkeeper Anthony Patterson was booked for
time-wasting.
But Leeds fought plenty themselves and in coming from 1-0
down to win 2-1, emerged victorious. Ironically, the goal which drew them level
came from a Sunderland foul, with substitutes Joe Rothwell and Pascal Struijk
combining from the resulting set-piece.
Daniel Farke’s side then piled on the pressure to win it at
the death, with Struijk once again finding himself on the end of Rothwell’s
cross to send Elland Road into rapture. Solomon had been substituted off by
that point and celebrated with his teammates, with a simple message sent to
other opponents who might think they can get under Leeds’ skin.
The winger posted two pictures on X, one of him injured on
the floor and being checked on by Ethan Ampadu and another of him flying past
Patrick Roberts. And alongside the snaps, he wrote: “They will not break us...
Massive 3 points!!”
Leeds definitely gave as good as they got on Monday night,
providing further evidence of a steeliness to go alongside their technical
quality. Jayden Bogle was one of three Whites to see yellow, having clattered
through Jobe Bellingham during the first half.
Junior Firpo and Ao Tanaka were also cautioned, while Joe
Rodon got a stern talking to after shoving O’Nien off Meslier before going
head-to-head with Wilson Isidor. Substitute Largie Ramazani also clashed with
Sunderland captain Dan Neil following the full-time whistle, with teammates of
both coming together briefly.
The top-of-the-table clash certainly didn’t lack needle and
Illan Meslier was at the centre of plenty, with travelling Sunderland fans
reminding him of that dreadful mistake at the Stadium of Light back in October.
And as Struijk’s winning goal rippled the net, Leeds’ goalkeeper cupped his
ears towards the away end before celebrating with the South Stand.
Leeds’ celebrations continued long after the final whistle,
with brilliant scenes as Ao Tanaka and Willy Gnonto danced together while ‘I
Predict A Riot’ by The Kaiser Chiefs belted out the PA. Farke got his usual
reception from each end of the stadium as thousands of fans stayed behind to
savour another excellent night under the lights.