HARDT LUCK
Kid Joe inspires Leeds before Rodrigo last-gasp penalty joy
TEENAGER Joe Gelhardt came off the bench to help give Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds the kiss of life – ironically after Wolves players last week underwent CPR training.
In football terms Leeds were lifeless, trailing to an early goal from Hwang Heechan and being harangued from an expectant crowd as passes and moves went astray.
They looked for salvation in the shape of England’s Kalvin Phillips, one of the substitutes as Bielsa tried to ease his injured talisman back into the fray.
But to their dismay the midfielder was left on the bench as the
Argentine rolled the dice. Gelhardt, 19, plucked with little experience from Wigan, was one of the chosen ones.
But surely even the experienced Bielsa couldn’t have believed the impact this pint-sized striker was going to make?
Twice he went agonisingly close, the first attempt a stinging drive brilliantly tipped over by Jose Sa, the second slicing just wide after wriggling into the box. Too little, too late? Do not believe it. Four minutes into six minutes of added time another slalom-type run into the area was halted illegally by Nelson Semedo and referee Rob Jones pointed to the spot.
Rodrigo stepped up and sent Sa the wrong way for a more-than-welcome point preventing Wolves recording a sixth consecutive win against the Elland Road men. But all the talk last night in West Yorkshire was of the exciting Scouser who had already made his mark with the England Under-20s and Leeds Under-23 side.
Bielsa said: “In the last 15 minutes he was causing danger constantly. He got a penalty and could have scored two goals.
“He and Rodrigo created enough chances to have won the game.”
Gelhardt added: “It was crazy.
“I sort of went dumb when I heard all the noise.
“I would love to play more Premier League games here.
“You learn so much technically a n d tactically from the manager. He makes you a better player.” Until Gelhardt made his presence felt it was all about Wolves having a new Bull in town.
A fourth goal in six games for Hee-chan since joining on loan from RB Leipzig has made him a Molineux favourite.
Even more so, that name in South Korean translates to bull – triggering memories of the deeds of Wolves legend Steve Bull.
The 10th-minute goal was a nightmare for Leeds winger Jack Harrison, who was taken to the cleaners by Semedo who cut in from the right and set up Raul Jimenez.
The Mexican scuffed his shot but it rebounded off a couple of Leeds defenders to Hee-chan, who calmly stroked home from close range.
Leeds, who could yet be in trouble with what appeared
to be a lighter thrown towards Jimenez, looked fragile every time they were placed under pressure by the visitors.
And for the first time under Bielsa’s watch, questions were being asked of the boss.
At half-time Bielsa hooked Harrison and ended the experiment of playing Daniel James through the middle.
But he suffered a blow when the impressive Raphinha went off with an injury, adding to a lengthy list which also includes Patrick Bamford, Luke Ayling and Junior Firpo.
As Wolves looked to run the clock down it was Gelhardt, the latest kid on the Leeds block, who offered the home side a lifeline.
His impact slowed the Wolves surge up the Premier League table and was a far cry from a week earlier when they had come back from the dead to take all three points against Aston Villa.
Perhaps it is time for some more CPR training at Molineux.