Sky Sports pundit reacts live to ‘absolutely crazy’ Leeds United situation vs Southampton with Victor Orta seen in tears
Elland Road went “absolutely crazy” when Junior Firpo put Leeds United ahead against Southampton, according to Michael Bridges.
The defender scored the only goal of the game at Elland Road as Javi Gracia’s first match in charge ended in a crucial victory, to leave embattled sporting director Victor Orta in tears in the stands.
Firpo, himself under pressure at Leeds United, took Jack Harrison’s back heel inside the Saints area to scuff a weak shot under Gavin Bazunu in the 77th minute and spark a huge release of emotion around the ground, while Sky Sports pundit Bridges reacted live to the dramatic scenes.
Reacting live on the world feed match commentary Bridges said (25 February, 4.35pm): “You can see the emotion there on Victor Orta’s face, he’s a very passionate man. He’s in the stands there. He made a big, big call to bring in the new manager, to make the decision about Jesse Marsch.
“That goal from Firpo, he’s had a great game… Harrison with the back heel, he takes his touch away from the defender and there’s not a lot of power in that strike, but what it has done, it’s caught Bazunu out. I think it’s [Roman] Bednarek who has actually blindsided his own goalkeeper.
“Elland Road has gone absolutely crazy as Leeds United go 1-0 up. And that’s what it means to the manager, he knows how vital that goal was.”
Explosion
It was threatening to shape up like so many games under Jesse Marsch until Firpo capped his man of the match display with the crucial goal.
The Whites had dominated possession and had the better chances without taking advantage, but the difference in Gracia’s first game, which he almost missed due to the late arrival of a work permit, was that they did find a way to break the deadlock.
Orta is no stranger to public displays of emotion, and he has no doubt been under huge pressure this season, but neither the goal nor the points are likely to sway the fanbase into his favour.
He has been central to a situation that saw Marsch sacked after most of the obvious points where it would have made sense, and a search to replace him apparently start from scratch at that late stage, to predictably poor results.
Numerous candidates proved out of reach, and only after panicking at the defeat at Everton did the club eventually settle on Gracia despite being in contact with him for a fortnight.
That delay saw him nearly miss the Saints clash, so it was no doubt a relief for the Spaniard to be in place and the result go the right way, but there’s no escaping the fact the board bungled the whole process.
Fans hadn’t experienced a win since 5 November so the “absolutely crazy” reaction wasn’t a surprise, but there will need to be a few more results like that before the huge pressure starts to lift.
In other Leeds United news, one player was hailed as “outstanding” on the day but made a big mistake that embodied the same issues that have arisen all season.
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