The chant was on repeat, the joy was unconfined. A game had been turned upside down, a season had been given lift-off and how Leeds United’s supporters were ready to tell the masses.
‘We’re gonna win the league,’ they exclaimed and that proclamation is probably going to come true after a quite extraordinary comeback – three goals in the final 20 minutes, two of which came in the final two – flattening Sheffield United and solidifying their place at the top of the Championship.
Nobody, you sensed, was more relieved than Illan Meslier, whose first-half blunder had threatened to blow this title race wide open and it was significant to see him pointing to the skies, alone, as the yellow masses engulfed Ao Tanaka, whose header had sealed these three points.
Meslier must improve, that much is apparent and on another night, his rick could have proved fatal but Leeds are team bursting with character and how they kept going in the second period when they shattered Sheffield hearts. How their goalkeeper will be thankful.
From early on, it was evident that Meslier was vulnerable. Chris Wilder, Sheffield’s wily old coach, will have been aware of the Frenchman’s errors against Portsmouth, Sunderland, Preston and Hull – when his enraged defenders howled their fury at him – and clearly looked to exploit.
How it worked. In the opening exchanges, as Leeds found themselves hemmed in, Meslier needed to two attempts to gather a long throw then flapped at a corner, as phalanx of red-and-white scavengers looked to pick up any scraps.
Joel Piroe takes the acclaim after securing Leeds’ crucial victory by scoring their third goal
Ao Tanaka (centre) watches in delight as the ball crosses the line to put Leeds in front
Junior Firpo arrives in the box like a train to head in the away team’s equalising goal
Meslier might have made a wonderful save in the 14th minute, arching himself like a high jumper to tip Callum O’Hare’s header against the bar, but the follow up was a calamity, as he effectively pulled the ball apologetically over the line after Tyreese Campbell hit the post.
Here was the equivalent of showing someone your new patio doors but then throwing a rock through the glass, the shattering effect was obvious as Leeds players dropped their heads. Wilder, a presence in the technical area as bright as his white trainers, implored his men to attack.
Leeds will always be the team in the Championship that takes the headlines but there was absolutely no foregone conclusion about them racing away from a posse of dangerous sides, not least United whose desperation to get back into the Premier League after last season’s fiasco is obvious.
Bramall Lane was as hospitable during those 12 months for locals as row of brambles. Nights in this venue often ended in rancour and recrimination, with visitors finding it all too easy to ransack; it was almost a year to the day that Arsenal had come here and walked in six unanswered goals.
Balance – and happiness – has been restored but this was the opportunity Wilder wanted, the chance for Sheffield to make a statement. They were excellent in the opening 45 minutes, full of endeavour and the livewire Campbell proving to be elusive as an annoying wasp.
He was backed up Sydie Peck, who wanted to Meslier whenever he could, and tried to catch him unawares in the 27th minute with a shot from 30 yards. It lacked power and accuracy but, nonetheless, Meslier’s save still prompted ironic cheers from the home contingent.
Illan Meslier looked shaky in the Leeds goal and will be relieved he didn’t cost his side
No one looked happy than the Frenchman as Leeds moved five points clear of their rivals
Sheffield United’s players are left wondering how they let this one get away from them
As much as they pushed, however, Sheffield just couldn’t get that elusive second goal. They were a whisker away on the half hour but Firpo made a quite brilliant intervention to scoop clear Campbell’s cross as Ben Brereton Diaz lurked at the back post.
How costly it proved. Leeds were never going to be as passive as they had been after the restart and there was more structure to their play, more menace as they probed. There was also, crucially, patience and it all paid off in the 71st minute.
Dan James tricked his way down the right and clipped an inviting ball into the area. Firpo arrived like a train, his header ripping into the net to spark bedlam. You knew they were not done and so it proved when Tanaka popped up to win it. For good measure, Joel Piroe’s strike from 25 yards put the gloss on things. Leeds, once more, are on course for the promised land.
