Wood has Leeds back on the rise
WE WILL know whether this truly is a new dawn at Leeds if Andrea Radrizzani decides to activate his option for a full takeover next summer.
But for now Leeds are a vibrant club again, marching on under Garry Monk — even with Massimo Cellino hanging around.
The scarves were waved with the sort of exuberance not seen in these parts for years and Radrizzani must have enjoyed a warm glow during his official introduction as co-owner.
Leeds sit third in the Championship table before today’s games thanks to Chris Wood’s thumping header and can dream of finally returning to the Premier League.
They were in the ascendancy from the off, with a zip to their play expected with Radrizzani at Elland Road for the first time since buying a 50 per cent stake in the club.
The feelgood factor was heightened as Wood made home pressure pay just before half-time. The Kiwi met Pablo Hernandez’s corner with a bullet header for his 17th goal of the season.
Leeds deserved their lead, shots having peppered Carson’s goal, with Kyle Bartley guilty of missing a number of presentable chances as Derby boss Steve McClaren fumed in the stand.
The most galling miss of the bunch came on 24 minutes and will grace the end-of-season bloopers reel. Souleymane Doukara flicked Hernandez’s corner from near post to far and there was Bartley, all alone, two yards out. The ball fell at a nice height, only for the defender to turn it wide.
Half of this old ground thought it had gone in, including McClaren, hunched in the Press box.
McClaren offered fascinating viewing, banging his desk, shaking his head and furiously ringing down to the dug-out.
He seemed particularly irked at Julien de Sart’s stuttering night in midfield, screaming for the Middlesbrough loanee to ‘get on the ball’ during his league debut as Leeds over-ran the visitors.
McClaren stormed downstairs 10 minutes before half-time. But that did not prevent the inevitable — a Derby capitulation from a corner.
They did have the ball in the net on 49 minutes but Darren Bent had charged down Rob Green’s nervous clearance with a hand.
And Bradley Johnson’s red card for a second bookable offence near the end was curtains for Derby’s chances of a leveller.