Good Morning. It's Monday 13th July, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road.
Last gasp goal edge Leeds closer to Premiership
Big Jack enjoyed the best seat in the house yesterday lunchtime, as Leeds edged ever closer to the Premiership. The Whites last trip to Wales three weeks ago had ended in defeat, and Bielsa's men were determined not to let the same happen again for their outing to the Liberty Stadium. The game itself was anything but a classic. Although the Whites had the lions share of the chances, few could have grumbled if the game had finished goalless.
As the Swans began to tire in the last half hour, the game opened up. Swansea on loan keeper had to be at his best to keep out Bamfords diving header from point blank range. The stalemate was broken on the cusp of second half injury time. A Swansea attack was diffused, and Leeds broke clear down the right with Ayling. His eventual cut back (after good work from Klich and Costa) found Hernandez. Even though the ball was beyond the Spanish star, he was able to take a touch, turn, swivel and shoot as he guided the ball past the helpless Woodman.
The significance of the goal was plain to see by all. Whilst LUFC commentator Bryn Law was having kittens, the veteran magician was being mobbed by all and sundry. Leeds need a maximum of four points from their remaining three games. Brentford have kept their 100 percent record intact since the league restarted three weeks ago, chalking up six wins in a row. West Brom draw at Blackburn heaps pressure on Slaven Bilic's team, with the Bees only three points behind them! Leeds are three points clear of West Brom and 6 points clear of Brentford with three games / nine points up for grabs.
Post match reaction
Swansea head coach Steve Cooper:
We felt comfortable in the game. They probably had a couple more clear chances than we did, but I thought we got into as many good areas as them. We're really disappointed to concede like we did that late on. It's a tough one to take, but we've quickly got to get over it. There are still points to play for. Whether we had drawn or won today, we still would have had to pick up points in the remaining games.
There were lots of good bits from the performance. I'd have liked us to keep the ball a bit more if I'm honest. I felt like a set-piece might decide it, whether it was for us or them. Both teams set up tactically well so for them to get through at the end is obviously disappointing.
Leeds head coach Marcelo Bielsa:
The match was very close with only a few chances. As the match progressed our possibilities grew. We deserved to score in the last 30 minutes and get what we got in the end. I cannot enjoy this yet. The only thing I can enjoy is the last objective, if we get it.
More than feeling what we feel, we are more relaxed because we are taking the steps we had to. Of course, when you score at the end it's a higher feeling, emotion. The bigger emotion, we didn't get this yet.