Leeds United back on top after stunning second half comeback
28 Jan 2020 10:14 pm, by YorkshireSquare
After twenty-four minutes at Elland Road on Tuesday you would be forgiven for thinking Leeds United’s season was over. Shaun Hutchinson headed Millwall into an early lead from a corner after just four minutes before Jed Wallace added a second from the penalty spot just twenty minutes later. An atrocious start for Leeds United, especially coming off the back of defeats to QPR and Sheffield Wednesday. This week had been so positive with the signings of Ian Poveda and Jean-Kévin Augustin but it was back to reality with a bump.
Leeds came back into the game, they had their chances in the first half but failed to take them. The same old story was playing out under the lights, the fears and anxieties returning to the fans. Something needed to change and fast. Whatever Marcelo Bielsa said to the players at half time didn’t take long, they were back out on the pitch well before Millwall or the officials. Whatever it was, short, probably not sweet and to the point, it worked.
Just three minutes into the second half Leeds had a corner, this time they took it quickly. Harrison in space at the far post volleys, the keeper saves but Bamford is there to stick it in. A chance he couldn’t really miss, confidence restored, hope returning. Just after the hour mark the ball is cleared to Pablo just outside the box, he controls, shoots, it’s deflected and it’s in. The scruffiest goal I have ever seen Pablo score but who cares, scores level. It’s all Leeds now, the win is there for the taking. Just four minutes later Luke Ayling crosses, Bamford with the diving header, 3-2!
A stunning comeback from Leeds, and still they had chances. Mateusz Klich, free in the penalty area should have scored but skies it over the bar. Costa with his trickery beats a man and hits the woodwork. Opportunities that may be regretted? There are nervy moments, calamity in the Leeds area but Millwall shoot over the bar. Leeds concede a corner with 92 minutes on the clock but Kiko claims it, safe hands. Even the introduction of Matt Smith couldn’t ruin Leeds United fun. Bamford dances in front of the Millwall keeper, wasting time, running the clock down.
The whistle goes, 3-2, a stunning come back from Leeds United!! Klich superb in the middle of the park, Harrison nowhere in the first half plays like Eddie Gray in the second, Costa unplayable when he is on it. From one of the worst forty five minutes of football Leeds have played to one of the most impressive in the second half. What’s more Cardiff beat Millwall, Forest beat Brentford. It may have seemed unlikely at 8:09pm Tuesday evening but by 9:45pm Leeds are back top of the Championship!