Adam Elliott

Fri 6 March 2020 17:40, UK

This column is part of a regular series from our panel of Leeds United Super Fans. Each week, our Super Fans will deliver their verdicts on the biggest talking points and news stories around Elland Road and Thorp Arch 

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Leeds made it five games unbeaten and four wins on the bounce after impressive wins away at Middlesbrough and Hull this week – the manner of which could not have been further apart.

It was a hard-fought and ground out win at the Riverside, although that wasn’t a big surprise given that the most common result Leeds have won by this season is 1-0 – seven of our twenty wins have ended this way.

Mateusz Klich was at the heart of the win. He claimed his fifth goal in all competitions and his third against Middlesbrough of the season. It was also, rather surprisingly, his first goal since the game at Elland Road against Jonathan Woodgate’s side in November.

However, that doesn’t tell the whole story, the Polish international has been superb this season. The tireless running and clever movements off the ball can often go unnoticed. He creates space and time for others.

The Middlesbrough game showed a Leeds side not at their free-flowing best like we have seen against Bristol City and Reading recently, and particularly against Hull afterwards. We were often sloppy in possession, but this may be due to a Middlesbrough side threatened by relegation and desperate for points themselves.

We didn’t dominate the ball and chances as we should, but when chances came, they were good ones. Hernandez striking the post, Bamford unfortunate to see the ball bounce up off his shin, but also missing a poor header early in the game – either side of Pears in the Boro goal and it was a certain goal.

Leeds were denied a dubious, but possible, penalty on Costa in the first half, and, in my opinion, both sides were denied a stonewall penalty in the second half. Harrison was clipped inside the area, and Dallas handballed a Lewis Wing free-kick.

It didn’t matter though, with Klich’s low strike in off the post the difference, Tavernier clipped the bar after good work from Coulson, but it wasn’t to be for the side in the relegation zone.

Hull, by contrast, gave us the complete performance and scintillating win we have been predicting to happen for a long time.

What a time to do it, with only ten games to go…

The first half saw only two shots for Leeds, but the second was an onslaught with fifteen shots for Bielsa’s men.

Klich again played out of his skin, but like so many others on the pitch at the KCOM. There were chances aplenty with Costa and Klich shooting wide from the edge of the box, and Harrison and Hernandez denied by the woodwork in what would have been two of the goals of the season.

Hernandez had an off day but still had a direct hand in two goals, setting up Ayling’s deflected opener, and finishing off Costa’s clever pass. Something we ought to be doing as a team is winning when not at our best,.Hernandez encapsulated that with his two-goal contribution but below-par performance.

Harrison, on the other hand, had his best ever performance in a Leeds shirt in my opinion but didn’t manage a goal or assist. A complete winger’s performance which just lacked a goal contribution. His feet in tight areas and engine are absolutely phenomenal.

Klich was again the main man though, his two assists for Roberts took his goal contributions to nine (5G, 4A) for the season, still some way behind the nineteen (10G, 9A) he picked up last season, but he is ever-present for a reason in Bielsa’s team and has now played 84 consecutive league games (including playoffs).

Some record, that…

Roberts’ first goal may well be one of the best Bielsa-ball goals, and one of the goals of the season in the Championship. Wonderful. Cutting through the Hull team starting with Harrison in a left-back position.

The fourth to wrap it up with a diving header from Klich’s lofted clipped ball was also sublime. The second half performance was such a complete one, Hull were “mauled by the Tyler”.

It sets up a tasty Yorkshire Derby this weekend against Huddersfield, who themselves won 4-0 last time out at home to Charlton and have won their last two. I’m sure they would like to upset the promotion hunt for what is their biggest game of the season.

The next three look like they may be the making of us. If we can get seven or nine points from Huddersfield (H), Cardiff (A), and Fulham (H), then I think promotion is almost certain…

Adam Elliott is a member of the MOT Super Fans panel and provides his post-match thoughts on Leeds after every game

In other Leeds United news, Matt Le Tissier & Jeff Stelling predict score in Leeds v Huddersfield clash