Jamie Carragher has praised the composure Leeds United showed for their last gasp equaliser against Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday. Pascal Struijk headed in a stoppage time goal to earn the Whites a 1-1 draw against the Seagulls and move out of the bottom three.
It was an excellent move that brought about the goal for Leeds, as Diego Llorente picked up the ball 30 yards from goal and ignored shouts of ‘shoot’ from the crowd to find Joe Gelhardt in the area. Gelhardt then produced a moment of genius to sit Lewis Dunk on the floor, before lifting the ball over his head and chipping the ball to the back post for Struijk to head home.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, Carragher hailed Gelhardt as a ‘special talent’ thanks to his contribution to the goal and was pleased to see the composure Leeds showed across the park amid the chaos of recent matches.
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He said: “He’s [Gelhardt] got that in his locker, seen it since he was 12 years of age, special talent. Jesse Marsch seems to have given him his head starting him the last two games. He’s a special young player and times like these, you don’t want a young player in the team but the composure he showed that is what they’re going to need on Sunday
“Huge (moment). What would’ve disappointed Leeds supporters, the manager, the last two games have been a mess, lost their heads completely, two red cards leaving them almost no chance of getting anything. The thing that was interesting was the composure they showed in the last minute of the game.
“There’s always going to be that madness 92nd minute, you need a goal but two or three times within this move, not panicking means they get a point from this game. Llorente and Struijk, they’re your two deepest players.
“The thing that impressed me here, how many times in games I see the centre-back come in and smash that and the crowd are shouting shoot, it’s the worst thing, I get so wound up even if I’m not watching my own team, they keep the ball moving, shows great composure.
“Gelhardt on the far side, poor touch, if uncomposed he’s lashing that across goal, weak foot, he shows the composure this skill is absolutely fantastic. In this position, you’re thinking panic but no composure and the skill is fantastic, people are thinking ‘have a shot’, no, just dinks it to the back post and who knows how vital that’ll be.”
