Summerville keeps Leeds in title hunt
The post-match playlist at Elland Road is becoming the soundtrack to Leeds United’s season. Once again, the Kaiser Chiefs’ I Predict A Riot and the Joy Division classic Love Will Tear Us Apart blared out in celebration of another victory.
The lyrics to the latter song are, of course, ironically reworked by Leeds fans with the chorus “Leeds are falling apart”. Only Leeds are not falling apart. They are now unbeaten in 15 Championship games since the turn of the year and remain the only side in the English Football League yet to lose on home soil this season.
This dramatic win, courtesy of late goals from Crysencio Summerville and Dan James, sent Elland Road wild once again and had echoes of the recent 3-1 success over Leicester amid similarly raucous scenes.
Coach Daniel Farke said: “These home games are priceless and we have to make sure that we create an atmosphere which is second to none. Our supporters did that again and they can enjoy this victory.”
Summerville fired home from 12 yards in the 88th minute after he was felled by Regan Slater’s clumsy challenge, before James’s spectacular long-range shot in added time heightened the drama.
Summerville had grabbed the ball after Joel Piroe, who had come off the bench four minutes earlier, attempted to assume spot-kick responsibilities.
The pair’s team-mates were forced to step in and allow Summerville to fire home, yet Farke was not overly concerned as his men climbed into second spot.
Farke added: “Summerville was our taker on the team sheet, but normally when I bring on Joel Piroe, he’s the penalty taker. But I don’t like someone taking a penalty when you have been on the pitch for just 30 seconds.
“You need to have a few touches and it was definitely the right decision for Cree [Summerville] to take it. It was good for Joel to then get an assist for Dan James’s goal.”
Tributes were paid ahead of the anniversary of the death of Leeds fans Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight, who were murdered in Istanbul on April 5, 2000, the night before a UEFA Cup semi-final against Galatasaray.
Hull have a Turkish owner in Acun Ilicali and both clubs made a plea for a united show of sensitivity and respect last night. A joint statement said: “We ask for respect from both sets of supporters throughout the match.”
With Leicester and Ipswich both winning at home earlier in the day, the pressure was on Farke’s side and they made the breakthrough in the ninth minute.
The enigmatic Georginio Rutter found Summerville advancing at pace inside the left channel and he drove forward and hit a shot which Ryan Allsop could only parry. The ball spooned up in the air and to the far post where Sam Byram arrived to bundle the ball home. Cue delirium in the home stands.
The early goal poured confidence into Leeds and they should have doubled their advantage midway through the first half, but Patrick Bamford blazed over.
In the 34th minute, the visitors were level as Tyler Morton broke down the left flank and crossed to the near post where Fabio Carvalho produced a deft finish to fire past Illan Meslier.
On the stroke of half-time, Leeds went close when Rutter was twice denied by Allsop from close range.
Leeds fans howled their disapproval in the 66th minute after being denied what they felt was a clear-cut penalty. Archie Gray went down inside the box under a challenge from Jean Michael Seri but referee Josh Smith was unmoved. At the other end of the field, chances grew scarce for Leeds and Farke replaced Bamford with promising youngster Mateo Joseph. But after Regan Slater fouled Summerville late on, the Dutchman stepped up to score before James fired into an empty net from distance.
After a sixth game without a win, Hull manager Liam Rosenior accepted his side’s play-off hopes were slipping. He said: “It’s a painful one but, if we play like we know we can, then we’ve still got a very good chance of achieving our aims this season.
“This was reflective of our season – we haven’t taken the moments from our dominance – but write us off, because there’s no pressure. But after that performance, I’ve never been prouder in defeat as a player, coach or manager.”