SECOND TIME AROUND’S OK FOR BOWEN
Hernandez
PABLO HERNANDEZ is urging team-mates not to blow their chance of going up after scoring the winner in this Yorkshire derby.
The Spaniard took advantage of a goalkeeping howler by Dean Henderson to score the only goal of the game and make it four wins from five for Leeds.
Victory opened a four-point lead over third-placed Middlesbrough and although his side have been in the promotion mix before in recent years only to miss out, Hernandez says they must hammer home their advantage in the coming weeks.
He said: “We always try to press high because mistakes can happen and that is what happened when we pressed the goalkeeper.
“We had a chance and scored and got the three points. This is teamwork and what can happen when you work as a team.
“It’s important to stay in this position at the top of the league.
“The next month is very important for us because we have a lot of games and the gap is too small between the first six or seven teams and if you lose two or three games in a row you can drop to sixth or seventh.”
The Blades had the better chances in a competitive derby, but in Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Leeds have an outstanding young keeper.
The 22-year-old twice denied David McGoldrick either side of a staggering miss from Billy Sharp, who headed over the bar from close range when it looked easier to score.
At the other end, Henderson was giving his counterpart a run for his money with two excellent saves from Aapo Halme and Hernandez.
But in a moment of madness, the keeper, on loan from Manchester United, handed Leeds all three points when his pass went straight to Jack Clarke, who crossed for Hernandez to tap into an empty net.
The result saw the Blades drop to sixth, but striker McGoldrick says they should have won. He said: “If there is a positive to take, it’s that we were the better team in a top-of-the-table clash.
“If we score first, we go on and win the game. It was our fault, I should have scored, but the way we play no one can play like that. We have nothing to fear.”
SHEFF UTD: LEEDS: MOTM REF: BAILEY PEACOCK-FARRELL (LEEDS) ATT:
– the Sheffield United man kicked the ball straight to Jack Clarke (above), who set up the late winner for Pablo Hernandez, gifting Leeds the points.
– the former Birmingham goalie handed Aston Villa their third at Middlesbrough as he somehow let in a Glenn Whelan shot that was straight at him.
– the Preston keeper (left) was christened ‘the new Peter Enckelman’ as team-mate Maikel Kieftenbeld’s overhit pass slipped straight through his legs. SECOND season syndrome may apply to players as well as teams, but Jarrod Bowen is determined not to be afflicted.
The Hull forward’s impact on games has been more fitful this season than in his dazzling debut campaign, but there were signs at Loftus Road he is emerging from his slumber.
Bowen (above) scored twice, made the other and was so busy swarming over the QPR defence it was impossible to work out where he was supposed to be playing.
That suited the 21-year-old just fine. His only concern was lifting Hull out of the Championship bottom three in a manic game that could have finished 6-6.
Bowen said: “Last year, shots were going in for me. This year, keepers are making saves or I’ve been putting them wide.
“I just want to keep playing week in, week out, keep contributing to the team and keep scoring goals like I know I can.
“It wasn’t on my mind that I hadn’t scored for six games. I know I’m going to get chances, so I can’t compare myself to last year because that was when I was the new kid on the block and things were going in.
“Second season, some things don’t go your way. It’s the way you react to it and keep playing for the team, not just yourself.”
Bowen opened the scoring, cutting inside to fire home, then sent over the corner for Markus Henriksen to make it 2-0.
After Pawel Wszolek reduced the deficit, Bowen broke away to score at the second attempt before Luke Freeman set up a finish every bit as frantic as the game itself.
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