And so they have got away with it: with daring to make the unthinkable managerial change, with their January transfer inertia and with their leaky back line. Leeds are staying up, Jessie Marsch’s mission accomplished.
They did it the hard way, the day starting with their fate in others’ hands. But a madcap victory against nine-man Brentford was enough to ensure that, much to the home fans’ disappointment, there was no Leeds falling apart.
Midway through the second half Raphinha’s penalty meant that, with Newcastle two to the good at Burnley, a three‑goal swing was required. Jesse says relax? Absolutely not: Burnley halved the deficit and the substitute Sergio Canós levelled.
Two minutes later the Spaniard departed following a pair of quickfire yellows, Kristoffer Ajer having previously limped off. And then, in the dying embers, Jack Harrison sparked mass celebrations. Naturally no one had left: Leeds fans are accustomed to stoppage-time winners.
“There wasn’t one day I didn’t believe,” Marsch said afterwards. “That’s why I never talked about being in the Championship. For me this business is about belief, about exuding it as a leader.
“And the other advantage I had was the group of players we have. I believed in their spirit and their resolve and I believed in their character. And I believe that over time, with all the things we’ve been through, that we were made stronger not weaker.”
Any which way one twists it, Brentford have had an outstanding campaign. Their season can be split into three parts: a magical start, a suboptimal middle, and then Christian Eriksen. One cannot underestimate the Dane’s impact. Whether the fairy-tale continues remains to be seen but it was lovely while it lasted.
“Christian needs to go away with his family and decide what to do. I’m optimistic, so I am believing,” was Thomas Frank’s response when asked about the chance. And sticking with that theme he said of his side’s 13th-place finish: “I had massive belief in this team before the season. I think we showed we could be an asset to the Premier League. I’m very proud of the overall performance.”
For Leeds a week’s dread, fear, excitement and hope all rolled into one stomach-churning knot was eventually cured. They stretched it out, though. The team sheet brought no relief: Patrick Bamford came down with Covid, having battled back to fitness. Luke Ayling, Adam Forshaw, Stuart Dallas and Dan James were all tracksuit‑clad but unavailable.
Kick-off proved no beta blocker, either: Diego Llorente’s punt forward was charged down by Ivan Toney, before Liam Cooper and Illan Meslier survived a miscommunication. Marsch scribbled furiously.
Next a roar emanated from the white corner, Callum Wilson having nudged Newcastle ahead. Then momentary pandemonium as Joe Gelhardt almost burst the Brentford net. VAR intervened. From there Brentford stepped up a gear, Bryan Mbeumo nutmegging Junior Firpo on the touchline and finding Mathias Jensen six yards out. The chip was audacious, Meslier’s tip necessary.
When Cooper surrendered possession, Jensen fed Mbeumo who dragged wide with his weaker foot. With his stronger foot Marsch kicked the gate adjacent to the dugout.
Raphinha’s moment came after the break and it was an act David Raya will want to forget. A stray attempted pass was intercepted by the Brazilian whom Raya then felled. Hop, skip stutter: goal. If that is Raphinha – who was fully immersed and scantily clad in the away end after the whistle – signing off, it will do nicely.
And then a Wilson brace at Turf Moor caused a domino of joyously bouncing Leeds bodies. Burnley halved the deficit but as a counterbalance Ajer’s afternoon ended. Surely all was OK now? Not quite: Mbeumo thrust forward and crossed for Canós to head an equaliser.
Booked for removing his shirt in elation, Canós then earned a second yellow for fouling Raphinha. And then with the last kick of the season, Harrison’s deflected effort from the edge of the penalty area beat Raya. Cue “Marching on together” reverberating around west London.
Marsch came, he tinkered, he tried his own thing and ultimately kept them up by mimicking his predecessor. It is fair, then, to ask whether he will march on with them. “It’s almost been a band aid project, more than it has been about a style of play and identity,” Marsch said.
“We are just scratching the surface of the potential of what we want to become. There is a lot to do: it’s almost everything. But I am so thankful to work with the people that I work with every day.”
