Like, most fans, including the square ball lads , I did not expect any points from this game. Like them a return of 3 from the 3 games ( Leicester, Everton and Palace, with Palace perhaps the most important) would be decent , so to get such a great win is brilliant. We started well and it was against the run of play, albeit not unexpected, when they opened us up through the middle and took the leadUp went the " Leicester have won 10 out of 10 when they score first" statistic- oh dear here we go again But, as so often under Bielsa and with this group of average players who always give it 100% and who play on whatever the situation, we showed that belief, team ethic, a settled way of playing, and effort can go a long way.Ayling, caught out for their goal, intercepted a pass and then did what he does, carryingnthe ball forward, playing an easy ball to Bamford who laid it into the path of the onrushing Dallas ( Leeds born and bred in northern Ireland) who finished with a style we would not have believed possible from him pre Bielsa. H really has stepped up his game again this season We had other chances to go ahead, Harrison, Raphinha , and Bamford all thwarted by schmeichel ( the offside decision v Klich would have been more contentious if the header from Bamford had gone in) Unlike the square ball lads I thought Bamford was ha ing a good game, holding the ball up etcSo 1 1 at half time , the main concerns were we had no made our dominance count, and would they be better second half?Both these looked to be the case early doors as we struggled with their change of formation but we pretty much kept them at bay with no real chances.Then Struik, having a good game at CH , made a great interception and fed Raph who again showed his quality with a lovely quick ball to Bamford who let it roll across his body and blasted homeThey stepped it up and created a few long range chances but we stood firm, Meslier again impressing, then cam a typical Leeds breakaway goal, lovely play by Dallas after a headed clearance by Struik, a ball down the wing to Klich, who showed skill and vision with a tremendous ball to Bamford who was sprinting forward (MOTD 2) showed he ran 92yards at full pelt. Would he beat Schmeichel 1 v 1 ? We will never know because Harrison ( and just behind) Costa had also run from one area to the other in the 85th minute. Bamford picked his pass and Harrison put it in the empty net - Bielsaball at it's best, and I LOVE ITCooper even managed to make a crunching tackle, of the type rarely seen these days.So a great performance and a better result as we get e ver closer to the 35-38 points we need for safetyEvery player excelled ( bar Costa who was not on long) as we finished the game ( and scored our 3rd) with all eleven players , players who were in our championship team last year A great day Dave _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: https://mailman.gn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email [email protected]
Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/leedslist/ Rest in Peace Guy, and wear your hat!
