‘Elland Road watches in horror’ – Sky and Footy Manager play cliffhanger Leeds finale v Charlton
Sky Sports used Football Manager to simulate the remaining nine games of the season, with the final Leeds United game playing out as live on its website today.
It was a very nervy finale for Leeds fans, who started the day on top of the league but just two points above Nottingham Forest in third who had won seven and drawn one of their previous eight games. Hmmm.
Both games went into half-time goalless but a goal from Macauley Bonne at Elland Road meant that a goal from Forest would put Leeds in the play-off spots.
Leeds fans were keeping an eye on the ‘live commentary’ on the Sky Sports blog, with one saying “Bloody knew it” when Bonne’s goal was announced.
Thankfully, Mateusz Klich came up with a penalty after 63 minutes to ease the Elland Road nerves. With a superior goal difference over Forest, Charlton would have to score again or Forest would need to beat Stoke to deny Leeds promotion and to save themselves from relegation.
That wasn’t the end of the drama, though, with Helder Costa getting himself sent off for a second yellow in the 76th minute.
And we couldn’t help a chuckle at this in the 82nd minute, although we wouldn’t have found it funny in the real world.
And there was more! Bonne scored a second late on and then Forest were awarded a penalty. Surely not? No! Jack Butland saved for Stoke. Phew.
Next, Luke Ayling was sent off in injury time and Charlton scored another. Thankfully, there were no Forest goals and Leeds were promoted in second place.
Would we have taken those results? It was far nervier than we imagine it would have been in real life, and while we’d never doubt the impartiality of Football Manager it did uncannily give Sky a crazy finale worth reporting on.
Some Leeds fans were not so convinced.
It was a bit of fun, though, and what we wouldn’t give to see this on the Sky website for real.
And, the way we see it, if Sky Sports are happy to announce Leeds as promoted, we can’t think of anything else that can stop us now.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay: This is what the Championship ‘as a whole’ thinks of Leeds being handed promotion