MISSED THE PLACE, GARRY?
Monk taunted by fans as Elland Road return goes awry
HEll hath no fury like an Elland road scorned. it started before the teams had come out of the tunnel. ‘F*** Garry Monk,’ was the chant.
Safe to say the leeds supporters were not buying their former manager’s claims last week that he left this part of yorkshire in the summer because the longterm contract he craved was not forthcoming and because decisions were being made upstairs without his input.
this was far from a happy return for Monk on a bile-filled afternoon. Pablo hernandez’s first- half strike and Ezgjan alioski’s second-half carbon copy sealed victory for his former employers before a controversial Britt assombalonga penalty raised temperatures further with 13 minutes to play but could not trigger an equaliser.
the win leaves leeds level on points with Boro and was celebrated wildly on the terraces by the majority of the 33,771. revenge was clearly sweet for those who continue to flock to this one-time fortress. it was also thoroughly warranted.
Not that Monk agreed. ‘i think we definitely deserved at least a point,’ he said. that was a tough case to make, as was his claim that he was not at the centre of this feisty occasion.
‘look, it’s not about me,’ he added, as a giant elephant wandered into the corner of the press room. ‘What’s happened has happened. i said my side, the club said their side. it’s done and dusted. My only focus is on Middlesbrough.’ try telling that to the home fans, who saw their side open the scoring when a Kalvin Phillips flick- on was crashed home by hernandez.
the celebrations were immediately followed by another Monk chant. there was joy and relief mixed with the vengeance. leeds have struggled after a strong start to the season and this cauldron was, underneath the bluster, gripped with unease.
Following the break came a similar second goal for the hosts, when alioski connected emphatically with hernandez’s cross. this time it was ‘Sack Garry Monk’. leeds continued to look the better side before a lifeline for Boro came courtesy of the assistant referee, whose flag brought a penalty and a deluge of plastic flagsticks from the home supporters. Monk may have been forgiven for feeling relieved that there was a new enemy in town.
the ruling appeared to be that luke ayling had brought down Daniel ayala, but replays showed the leeds man had been hurled to the floor by his opponent first.
regardless, assombalonga made no mistake from the spot to set up a nervy finale in which Martin Braithwaite and ayala came close to rescuing a point.
this was not good from the visitors, who have invested heavily as they look to secure a parachute payment-aided return to a top flight leeds have not graced in more than 13 years.
a happier afternoon for manager thomas Christiansen, the latest entrusted to finally end that barren run. ‘it’s proof we are working well,’ he said of the victory. ‘that the team are alive.’ Seven defeats in eight matches in all competitions had led to whispers over his future, but the 44-year-old claimed he had no concerns.
‘Pressure?’ he said, with no little disdain. ‘i don’t care about pressure. i take it gladly if i can take it away from the players.’ When questioned whether the atmosphere created by Monk’s return had helped his team, Christiansen decided to take a leaf out of his opposite number’s book.
‘the players were not aware of it,’ he said. ‘it was not extra motivation.’ if you believe that, you will believe anything.