SILENT ASSASSIN IS LETHAL FOR LEEDS
PThe 33-year- old former Spain international is enjoying the most productive season of his life and took his tally of league goals to a dozen with the brace that sealed a dramatic comeback win over
ablo Hernandez struck what could be a decisive blow in leeds’ quest for automatic promotion at a time when all the chat among his dumbfounded colleagues is about how he has missed out on a place in the Championship team of the year. Millwall at a breathless elland road.
‘When the team of the year came out, I cannot lie — we were all very surprised he did not make it,’ said Tyler roberts, who teed up Hernandez’s winner seven minutes from time.
‘ He has been amazing this season. He has had a great career and is still doing it. He is not the loudest player in the changing room but he leads us with what he does on the pitch. He lets his performances do the talking.’
Wales international roberts was five years old when leeds fell out of the top flight at the end of the 2003-04 season.
He said: ‘To get this massive club up to the Premier league would be a dream come true. You can feel the atmosphere and the buzz around the place at kick-off.
‘I don’t feel it is a desperation among the fans to go up. More an excitement. We love coming out of the tunnel at kick-off, hearing the noise. It is great to hear that, an amazing feeling.’
However, the reaction of the home support to the celebrations of Millwall players after the visitors had retaken the lead through ben Marshall’s penalty may have repercussions.
Stewards were forced to clear debris from the field following a shower of missiles 10 minutes into the second half.
leeds began the weekend with their destiny no longer in their hands in the race for the top two. They had lost to promotion rivals Sheffield United a fortnight ago and the doom-mongers were rubbing their hands when ben Thompson headed in early on.
but Hernandez — the first leeds player in seven years to reach double figures in both goals and assists — swept in the first equaliser and luke ayling nodded in the second after manager Marcelo bielsa went on the attack in the game’s final quarter.
by the time Hernandez enjoyed the last word, bristol City had spectacularly overturned their deficit at bramall lane, and confirmation on the scoreboard at the final whistle that leeds would take a two-point advantage into the final seven matches was met with raucous delight.