Tearful Leeds United memory can be exorcised on…

Tearful Leeds United memory can be exorcised on poignant anniversary return for six-pointer

Exactly one year will have passed when Leeds United return to the scene of their Molineux miracle on Saturday. It was the Friday night match last year in a live broadcast slot and viewers were not disappointed.

There was the headline comeback from 2-0 down to 3-2 victors in injury time, but beneath that there were layers of controversy, heartache and desperately chaotic football. There was the collision between Illan Meslier and Raul Jimenez, which resulted in the former’s substitution and the latter’s dismissal.

There would be injury-enforced first-half substitutions for Diego Llorente and Patrick Bamford, who failed to hold back the tears at the back of the Leeds dugout. There was Mateusz Klich’s golf ball-size bruise and concussion.

There was Kristoffer Klaesson’s senior debut at 2-0 down with 40 minutes still to play and his last-gasp match-winning save in the dying embers of the game. There were even yellow cards for the over-exuberant celebrations of the substitutes, including Nohan Kenneh, who could only mirror the away support when Luke Ayling’s late winner went in.

It was a match which left everyone inside the stadium exhausted by the emotion of the evening, especially those who had barely recovered from the Norwich City winner at Elland Road five days earlier. It was a chaotic evening which would come to sum up that run-in under Jesse Marsch.

A horrendously bad first half from the Whites somehow gave way to an unforeseen fightback and victory, with the aid of Jimenez’s red card. The contrasting emotions for Bamford and Rodrigo, who scored the equalising goal on the night, will make Saturday’s return all the more special.

Bamford will look to exorcise the tearful pain of the night his plantar fascia gave way while Rodrigo will want to shackle the energy and memory of that comeback to feed into another much-needed victory. Javi Gracia, crucially, is hopeful about both of them continuing their comebacks from injury this weekend.

"Today (Saturday) he (Bamford) was available, but not to play all the game, but we had to manage with many players, with Patrick and Rodrigo, who could only play a few minutes,” he said. “Same with Luis [Sinisterra] as well. We are recovering players. Today they only played some minutes, but for the next game they will be stronger and do better."

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