Good Morning. It's Thursday 23rd July, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Leeds sign off the season in style
Bielsa's babes produced another masterclass as they prepare for life in the Premiership, condemning Charlton Athletic to life back to life in the third tier of English football. Any hopes that Leeds would take it easy on Lee Bowyer's side were dashed on 2 mins as Harrison curled a shot just wide of goal
The Whites took the lead on 13 minutes. Hernandez corner was returned back to him, and the veteran play maker's sublime pass found White on the edge of the D. The on loan defender added a further 5m to his Summer price tag as he chested the ball before smashing it through the roof of the net from over 20 yards out- not bad for his first goal of the season. Hernandez set up the second goal too. He carved the Addicks defence in half (and another trademark nutmeg) allowing Dallas to stab the ball home.
Leeds extended their lead further six minutes into the second half. Roberts pin point header straight from a corner gave Charlton keeper Dillon Phillips no chance. The icing on the cake came 25 minutes from time, Poveda latched on to a sixty yard diagonal pass. He squared the ball to Shackleton who calmly guided the ball into the corner of the net for his second goal in as many games. Finally, the ghosts of 1987 and Peter Shirtliff can be laid to rest.
Final day mayhem
Five games ago, Luton, Barnsley, Stoke, Middlesbrough and Huddersfield made up the bottom five of the Championship. Who would have thought ten days later all five would escape the trapdoor!!! If truth be known Hull have been on a collision course to league 1 since early January. They have won once in 20 games. Wigan's 12 point deduction for entering administration is well document. Had they held on to beat Fulham, they would have avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth. Plucky Charlton had only spent one week in the relegation zone before Leeds cemented their fate.
Most thought Luton's fate was sealed at Christmas. The Hatters were rooted to the bottom of the Championship and were leaking goals for fun. However, their great escape started upon the restart of the season. Nathan Jones' men accumulated an impressive sixteen points from their final nine games to escape relation at the 11th hour.
Barnsley were in the relegation-zone every week from 15 September until the 91st minute in the final game of the season! They too found their form when the season restarted at the end of June. 15 points from their final 9 games, including a last gasp winner last night from ex White Clarke Adour last night was enough to keep Barnsley up, and condemn Brentford to the play offs.
At the other end of the table, Nottingham Forest had a seven-goal cushion and a 3pt buffer going into last nights game overturned by Swansea City. Who would you like to see win the play offs? Should Wigans 12 point deduction for going into administration be overturned?
Kinnear - How can we trust you?
Thousands of Leeds descended en mass outside Elland Road last night, ignoring Leeds Utds plea's to stay away. Instead of road blocks, barriers and a big Police presence, the crowd were treated to an open bus parade. This is a real kick in the teeth for the majority of the fans who had enough respect for the club they love to stay away.
Furious Leeds fans have taken to social media to express their disgust at what has been described as the 'scum element' of Elland Road, and being 'one step up from Millwall fans' after scenes of anti social behaviour, dozens of flares, smoke bombs and drunken behaviour once again taints our great club. Should the fans be allowed to celebrate - of course they should, but what about the majority of fans who had the respect to stay away!
Leeds Managing Director Angus Kinnear's repeated warnings over the past week fell on deaf ears as early as last Friday. Hundreds of fans were greeted by the sights of their hero's celebrating from the Elland Road offices. Having been treated to those scenes of jubilation, thousands more decide to ignore Kinnears further orders to stay away from Elland Road last night, and were rewarded to see the Champions lift the title from an open top bus.
Don't you think the rest of us would have wanted to see that?
