LEEDS HIT BACK
Leaders earn point to show pedigree
LEEDS United’s determination to prove they have the legs to last the distance in the Championship promotion race saw them extend their lead at the top via a point from a breathless Yorkshire derby last night.
This time last year, they had 20 points from nine matches only for their season to hit the proverbial brick wall. Thomas Christiansen would pay with the loss of his job.
History also says that Marcelo Bielsa’s sides run out of steam, although the way Leeds responded to the stunning 30yard volley from Sheffield Wednesday’s Adam Reach with an equally spectacular long-distance effort from Mateusz Klich suggested things could be different.
Samuel Saiz orchestrated the first attempt on goal in the eighth minute when he turned into space in the Wednesday penalty area and dinked a ball beyond the far post. The onrushing Barry Douglas’s first- time header forced Cameron Dawson to extend himself at the expense of a corner.
It was Leeds’ other full back Luke Ayling who found the ball at his feet 10 yards out shortly afterwards. He could not control it, however, and the chance was gone. Halfway through the opening period, Bielsa began checking his watch. Kalvin Phillips must have feared the worst. Twice this season, he has been hauled off in the opening period.
After Ash Baker inadvertently deflected the ball wide, Leeds struck the woodwork when Saiz returned a half- cleared corner and Douglas’s indecisive header bobbled onto the upright.
In the scramble that ensued, Douglas teed up Phillips, only for another Baker block to keep the game goalless.
At this juncture, the attacking intentions of Jos Luhukay’s team had been sporadic. As early as the fourth minute, they appealed in vain for a penalty after Fernando Forestieri got goal- side of Pontus Jansson and hit the turf after a tangle. Referee Robert Jones deemed contact unintentional.
The Hillsborough howls were reprised immediately after Leeds’ period of pressure when Bailey Peacock-Farrell hared from his area to snuff out another Forestieri attack.
There was nothing Peacock-Farrell could do about Reach’s spectacular effort, however, as Wednesday went ahead on half time.
From a corner, Steven Fletcher nodded the ball into the path of Reach, whose perfect connection arced over the grope of the visiting goalkeeper and into the net.
It sparked an emotional celebration from Reach, who raced beyond the dugouts to raise a Wednesday shirt with Kalinins on the back.
Last week, the club’s fitness coach Andy Kalinins lost his wife Hayley — the mother of his four children — following a battle against cancer.
If Leeds felt hard done by at the interval, they emerged with vigour and were level within nine minutes courtesy of Klich.
Saiz’s vision presented the opportunity, a reverse pass gaining Klich a split second to compose himself before bending his shot into the corner for his fourth goal of the season. No Championship midfielder has more.
With Kemar Roofe, Pablo Hernandez and Patrick Bamford all sidelined, Leeds’ attacking options are stretched
Ezgjan Alioski and Tyler Roberts found room behind the home defence during a frantic finale, but to no avail.