Heidi's Blog - Tribute to Stuart Dallas Overshadowed by Defeat

Leeds United v Blackburn Rovers | 13th April 2024 | Elland Road


Obviously after today, it shows that you can’t take anything for granted as we come away from two home games with a solitary point. Yes, we missed another great chance to keep our destiny in our own hands today: we may have had a lot of possession according to the Stats on the big screen, but nothing counts unless they materialise into goals. The lads did try today, the crowd played a part too but sadly we couldn’t make that advantage count. It feels like it is guaranteed that we will have to spend a lot of money going down to the capital on top of everything this season has already cost. Time will tell, but at the moment everyone around us is stuttering although Southampton got a win and Ipswich got a welcome point. We need to take the pressure back off us as the automatic promotion slots are like a poisoned chalice. Using reverse psychology, we need to convince ourselves it’s an impossible dream but in reality, hope that Don, Billy and all the lads up there are rooting for us to go up automatically.

Sadly, I didn’t feel well for most of the game and had to go to bed when I got home. I still don’t feel too well so will miss the LUSCOS night with our Scandinavian friends tonight but hope they have a fantastic evening. We didn’t get to the ground and Peacock until late due to malfunctioning traffic lights at the top of Elland Road. Luckily, I managed to see plenty of people, and it was good to catch up with friends I haven’t seen in years. As Stuart Dallas announced his retirement from football this week due to his injury received two years ago, he was going to do a lap of honour with his family at half time. Thank you for everything Stuart, as you brought the good times back to Leeds with Marcelo Bielsa and your teammates and for that, I will always be grateful. MOT.




Their keeper had the game of his life, despite all his time wasting that went unpunished until the 85th minute. Leeds fans had resorted to counting lessons for the referee as he was unable or unwilling to clamp down on this in the early part of the game. He also only awarded one minute injury time at the end of the first half which resulted in booing all around the ground. There are obviously big stakes at bay, but Leeds had attempts from Summerville and Gnonto saved by the keeper. Ampadu came close with a header; Gruev saw his shot go narrowly wide and their keeper saved a good attempt from Roberts. Leeds continued to attack but were constantly brought down with fouls by the opposition. We had to be alert near the end of the half when Meslier saved a shot to keep the scores level at half time.

After the cries of “one Stuart Dallas” died down on the terraces, the game carried on in the same vein as the first half with the keeper saving from Gruev and a fantastic shot from Gnonto went narrowly wide. We had a warning from Blackburn that it was not a one-way street with our attacks, as Meslier cleared the ball from his area. Farke went to his bench as their keeper saved from Firpo and James saw his shot go wide of the goal.

Leeds were crushed by the sucker punch as our formation had changed with the subs and Blackburn scored after counter attacking. Sadly, that was the only goal of the game which Leeds couldn’t come back from. Boos rang out around Elland Road as the referee left the pitch, as this became our first defeat of the season. Sod’s Law came to mind that whenever there is a little hope with a chink of light in the armour, it never works for us. Farke did change his starting line up as requested by many fans but even that didn’t work for us. It wasn’t good at times and again very frustrating, but there is nothing we can do as fans to change it.

With Boro and QPR away from home to come next, let’s hope we are the underdogs rather than the favourites please.

LUFC – Marching on Together!

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Leeds lost the game 1-0

Team: Meslier, Ampadu (captain), Firpo, Gray, Rutter, Rodon, Summerville, Gnonto, Piroe, Roberts, Gruev

Subs: Byram for Roberts (67), James for Rutter (67), Bamford for Gruev (67), Joseph for Gnonto (80), Anthony for Firpo (88)

Unused Subs: Darlow, Cooper, Kamara, Gelhardt

Attendance: 36,518 (1,900 Blackburn Fans)
Referee: James Bell.
Booked: Joseph (Leeds)