Weston McKennie wows Michael Owen and Jermaine Beckford for Leeds United in ‘absolutely brilliant’ moment vs Leicester
Weston McKennie provided a moment of real quality for Leeds United to stun Michael Owen and Jermaine Beckford against Leicester.
The American midfielder has come in for heavy criticism in recent weeks as the Whites’ form has collapsed, but he played a crucial reverse ball in the build up to Luis Sinisterra’s 20th minute opener in the 1-1 draw with the Foxes.
Collecting the ball from Luke Ayling after a throw on the right he played a first-time pass to Jack Harrison that freed the English winger in traffic to deliver the cross that his Colombian counterpart headed home at the back post, and the two former strikers were delighted with what they saw.
Speaking live on BT Sport at half time (25 April, 8.58pm) Beckford said: “Absolutely humungous, honestly what a moment for Leeds United…
“We were having a discussion in the studio, this pass from Weston here was absolutely brilliant, it had the pace on it had direction, cut two or three of the Leicester City players out.”
Owen added: “It was a very good goal, very good goal. Brilliant ball. Brilliant two passes.”
Reminder
It may not be enough to rescue his Leeds United career after a bruising run of games that has seen him overrun in midfield, but it was a reminder that McKennie certainly has quality.
Javi Gracia perhaps bears some of the responsibility for the fact that he and Marc Roca have struggled so badly during the recent run of defeats, as some of the manager’s selection decisions have been confusing and don’t seem to have reacted properly to what has happened on the pitch.
Both the midfielders were slightly better against the Foxes but it still wasn’t enough to secure a vital win in a relegation six-pointer.
Evidently this relegation battle is not going to be made safe until every supporter has been stressed to their limit, a year after survival was only locked up on the final day.
Patrick Bamford’s late miss makes it impossible to see this is anything other than two points gone begging, but a point is better than nothing.
It isn’t going to be pretty but still the Whites only need three of the four teams below them to do worse over the final weeks to limp home.
In other Leeds United news, either one or two significant Elland Road exits have already been sealed after recent events.