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Josh Warrington left Elland Road early, missed huge Leeds United drama
Josh Warrington left Elland Road 20 minutes before the end and missed “absolute pandemonium” as Leeds United beat Norwich City in injury time.
The former world champion boxer is a well-known Whites fan and won the IBF featherweight belt in a 2018 fight held at United’s home stadium, but exited the ground early on Sunday (13 March) and didn’t see the home side pegged back in injury time before Joe Gelhardt’s 94th-minute winner.
A Rodrigo goal had put Leeds ahead against the league’s bottom side, but following Warrington’s exit the visitors had a penalty-award overturned then equalised through Kenny McLean in the 91st-minute, before the host’s winner sparked wild celebrations.
The boxer told Mirror Sport: “I was there, but I left after 70 minutes because I had to get home and get something done.
“Obviously when I was listening to it on the radio I was thinking ‘Oh man! I can’t believe we have thrown it away’ and then a few minutes later, we came back and it was absolute pandemonium.
“Gutted to have missed that last little bit and drama, but at the same time I’m sure my nerves would have been through the roof if I had been there.”
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Lesson learned
For all the practical benefit of beating the traffic and getting home early, leaving early is asking for trouble.
It may have been unavoidable in this instance but endings like the one that Raphinha’s assist for the Gelhardt winner produced is what football is about.
In light of the dismal form in going winless for two months, the jubilation as the winner went in is even more special for the fans.
It may have only been against the league’s weakest team but a last-gasp winner is an event that sticks in the memory even if it doesn’t come in the midst of a relegation battle.
Jesse Marsch’s side are by no means safe yet, but the atmosphere could hardly be more different to the miserable defeat to Aston Villa just days earlier.
The emotional lift for everyone involved should be huge, and it gives the manager and the players something to build on.
If it proves to be the turning point in this horrendous season, and kickstarts a big career for the young scorer, it would become an even more famous moment, and Warrington will be kicking himself he missed it.
That said, he surely would prefer to have missed a winning goal than stayed and seen the club drop points.
In other Leeds United news, RB Leipzig have given their reaction as the four-hour CAS hearing concludes.