A team talk from history
As Leeds United’s players waited in the tunnel to make their entrance into the Elland Road cauldron, they had Jesse Marsch’s words ringing in their ears. Yet there was something far better to come.
Eddie Gray, Allan Clarke, Mick Jones, Paul Reaney, David Harvey, Tony Dorigo, Steve Hodge, Jon Newsome and Chris Fairclough were among the names parading Elland Road before kick-off. They are bona fide legends in these parts.
As they came down the tunnel, they shook every hand in white as they went by, offering words of inspiration as they went. Words from men who have been there and done it in white.
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Cooper’s call for help
In the 16th minute, when the ball went dead for an away throw-in, Liam Cooper found himself alone in the centre circle with Danny Welbeck. Robin Koch and Diego Llorente had each gone forward to pick up men and left Leeds one for one at the back.
In what was either a cry for some instructions then and there or something wider-ranging after a few choppy moments in the backline, Cooper called for Marsch’s attention. The head coach immediately shouted at some of the players on the field before going to the bench for advice.
Phillips keeping a chin up
Rodrigo, it’s fair to say, had a miserable opening 25 minutes in the match. In line with the momentum he took from Wednesday’s loss, the record signing could not string a pass together.
The nadir came as he gave the ball away which would ultimately see Brighton & Hove Albion take the lead. Jack Harrison had picked up an excellent position as he raced into space on the overlap with a clear angle for the ball to be played.
Rodrigo delayed and when he eventually passed it was picked up by a Brighton body. He did not improve from there.
When another simple pass was banged into touch instead of into an open teammate the groans from the crowd were so loud there was no hiding the Spaniard from that backlash. As he jogged past, Kalvin Phillips gave the forward a little pat on the back.
Harrison’s son of a gun
You might remember, several weeks ago now, Marsch called on Jack Harrison to found his, in other words, inner son of a gun after being too nice on the field. There has been the odd moment here and there, but another on Sunday.
After fouling Joel Veltman in very soft circumstances, Brighton prepared to take a free-kick just over halfway. Harrison was clearly not his 10 yards away and went for the ball after Mike Dean blew, knowing full well it was illegal to do so.
Gelhardt not buying the act
In the 61st minute, Yves Bissouma hit the deck after simply blocking a Harrison cross with his leg. The winger was stood ready to take the throw-in, but decided to wait for Mike Dean to make a decision on the floored Brighton man.
The whistle had not been blown and there were no discernible instructions from the referee besides a walk over to Bissouma. Meanwhile, Joe Gelhardt was imitating a throw-in with his hands and calling for Harrison take advantage of the man down.
Bielsa and the board on the mind
As the minutes, and what felt like Premier League survival, ebbed away and the equalising goal seemed like it would never come at Elland Road, the fans made themselves heard. The two things at the top of their list were the head coach some felt never should have gone and the decision-makers behind this decline.
In the 84th minute, Marcelo Bielsa’s name was sung for the first time in what felt like weeks. Just one minute later the calls came for the board to be sacked before the ownership was told to sell the club and head home.
The equalising goal took the sting out the tail which would have surely come with defeat at the final whistle.
Farewell lap
As is customary, the playing squad and staff took in a lap of the Elland Road pitch as the final home clash of the season. Luke Ayling, Patrick Bamford, Tyler Roberts, Stuart Dallas, Daniel James and Crysencio Summerville were all included too.
Of the moments which stood out from the final lap, Marsch was walking in front of the Jack Charlton Stand with Harrison. One cameraman was tracking them both from a few feet away and the American did not like it, beckoning him away.
Phillips is usually the last man down the tunnel from the post-match laps, but he did seem to linger a touch longer this time. While he was too far away to spot tears, he was clearly wiping his cheeks as he made for the tunnel.
Post-match kickabouts
With the farewell laps out of the way, some of the players came back out onto the pitch long after the fans had departed. Phillips was with his extended family in the Don Revie Stand penalty box.
While they took penalties at one another, laughing and joking, Pablo Hernandez and Jack Harrison exchanged words in front of the tunnel before the former took his family out to the Norman Hunter Stand penalty box.
