Match Report: Leeds United 3 Spurs 1 (that's it, folks! The shows over)

 

Match Report: Leeds United 3 Spurs 1 (that's it, folks! The shows over)

That is what happens when you put an inexperienced man/ child in charge of an adult professional team. It was never going to end well.

I actually started writing the above when Leeds were 2-1 up. Right from the get-go, you could sense that disaster was looming. I wrote something a couple of articles back about us gradually getting high and then suddenly being knocked back with a sledgehammer, which has been happening all season.

With Leicester City losing last night and the possibility of City beating Chelski, we could have gone closer to the golden goose (Champions League football), but instead, we shoot ourselves in the foot again. No wonder they call us "Spursy". Levy needs to rethink the whole structure of the club's philosophy; because, under his watch, we've been all over the place with nothing to show for it.

To the Match

Patrick Bamford scored for Leeds United in front of one of our rumoured possible managers, England boss Gareth Southgate.

In a poor game for us, Stuart Dallas put Leeds ahead with his eighth league goal of the season, he pounced from close range after Hugo Lloris' terrific reaction save to prevent Sergio Reguilon from putting through his own net. Twelve minutes later, Son equalised after Dele Alli was allowed to run unchallenged before threading a clever pass into his path. Leeds were hoping that that goal would be just a blip, and a blip it was. Leeds responded through Bamford, who tapped in Ezgjan Alioski's cross before Rodrigo verified our first league defeat in three games under boy/ child Ryan Mason.

We should have realised when Harry Kane had two goals ruled out for offside and hit the bar from a free-kick that it wasn't going to be our day.

What is left for us now?

Not much! With three matches left and five points off fourth spot, I can't see us getting into the European Champions League. We also must remember that the Spammers and Russians both have a game in hand. Which will probably mean another season in the Europa League. The only blessing, the Gunners won't be sharing that Europa spot with us.

My thoughts

This was our second defeat since Levy, in his wisdom (and before a Final), decided to sack Jose Mourinho, which makes this season our 13th without a major trophy.

No doubt Mourinho will have a better chance of winning something with Roma, as we now search for our 10^th manager under Levy's stewardship. Whoever takes over faces a colossal task.

There will be question marks over the future of Kane while Gareth Bale has just three games before he is due to return to Real Madrid. And the possibility of more players going. Who wants to stay on a ship with Levy as their Captain, surrounded by the Captain's own minefields.

Our next fool. Sorry, manager will be the 10th permanent appointment made during Daniel Levy's 20 years as chairman. He does really needs to get the next one right.

Beating Southampton and relegated Sheffield United at home under Mason, this was a careless and poor performance.

Full credit to Leeds, they were much more challenging and took the lead after Aurier was allowed to cross from the left, while Eric Dier's poor clearance generated the move that led to Bamford scoring Leeds' second goal.

It looks unlikely we will get fourth place now, while sixth place will become seventh if Liverpool beat Southampton at Anfield.

The stats

Leeds became the first side to remain unbeaten at home in the Premier League against each of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and us in a season since West Ham in 2015-16, and only the third newly-promoted side to do so, after Ipswich Town in 2000-01 and Birmingham City in 2009-10.

We have lost five of our 10 Premier League away games in 2021.

Bamford has had a hand in 22 Premier League goals this season (15 goals, seven assists) - only one Englishman has been involved in more (Harry Kane, 34).

Only Kane (21) and Salah (20) have scored more Premier League goals than Son (17) this season.

What's next for us?

Hell?

We are at home to Wolves on Sunday, 16 May (14:05 BST).

The end of this season can't come quick enough so that we can start afresh for next season (I seem to say that every season).

COYS!

All the best, Glenn