It is the weekly moanday blog folks, and one place to find long, angry, sad faces was at Elland Road, as Leeds United's quest for promotion through the 2 automatic spots vanished into thin air in a dramatic fashion, first, a contentious goal and then, a commendable equalizer ended Leeds dream. Leeds needed the 3 maximum points to keep their slim chance of upstaging their nearest rival, Sheffield United, who occupied the last of the 2 automatic spots, alive, and then hope for a slip off from United in the last match, but Aston Villa was in their way, and duly proved to be a stumbling stone.
Leeds came into the matchday 45 on a 2-match losing run, having lost to Brendford and Wigan Atletic respectively, and also fully aware that their rival, Sheffield United had won her match earlier on Saturday, it was a must-win match for them, unfortunately, they came up against an in-form Aston Villa, who was on a 10-league-match winning run. Villa is 5th on the EFL log table, the 3rd playoff spot and can still be displayed by either or both of Derby County who occupies the last playoff spot in 6th and Middlesbrough who sits on 7th, so, it was all to play for between Leeds and Villa at Elland Road.
It was a tension-soaked match between an ambitious team and an in-form team. As expected, the home team took the early ascendancy and took the game to their visitor who stood their ground and refused to blink. A fiercely contested 1st half with a limited clear cut chance, but both teams wasted the few that came their way, Jonathan Kodjia and Neil Taylor the culprit for Villa, wasted 2 golden opportunities that came begging, while striker, Mateusz Klich also missed for Leeds, in a goalless 1st half.
The much talked about drama unfolded midway through the 2nd half, Villa striker, Jonathan Kodjia was presumably fouled by Leeds defender, Liam Cooper, but the referee waved play on, Villa players then signalled to Leeds player to put the ball out in a 'spirit of the game gesture', but Leeds, having initially shown consent, played on and scored through Mateusz Klich in the 72nd minute while Villa players were flat-footed. The goal immediately caused a brawl between opposition players and coaching staffs. However, in a turn of event, Leeds manager, Marcelo Bielsa, had a choice to make, 'ignore Villa's protest and hang onto the goal'? or 'let the spirit of the game prevail'? Bielsa chose the latter, he orders his players to allow Villa an unopposed equalizer. After about 3 minutes of confrontation between both parties, Villa was allowed to walk the ball into Leeds net for an equalizer through Albert Adomah in the 75th minute, even though a rebellious Leeds player, Pontus Jansson tried to stop the goal, which also sparked another confrontation between the players. The cagey and fierce matchup ended in a 1 all draw, and thus, Leeds fate was sealed. watch the drama below;
Happy Moanday weekly blog is @pete initiative, see link for more details.
Leeds trouble did not start at matchday 45, it started way back, and the 2 back-to-back defeat was really a dream killer. Leeds started the season on a high, going 5-league matches without a defeat(4 wins & a draw), and for the majority of the season, it looked like it was going to be a 2-horse race between Leeds and Norwich City for the 2 automatic promotion spots, but then, a controversy, which may have caused the inconsistency of Bielsa's team, especially some vital points dropped at home.
Above were the Data collated on Derby County prior to the league match against them.
Earlier in January, prior a league match against Frank Lampard's Derby County, Bielsa sparked a controversy that may have left his team susceptible, He said he had spied on every opponent his side had faced, a comment most managers frowned at. So how did he find himself and Leeds here despite the spying?
have other coaches found a way to deceive him in training?
has Bielsa been focusing on the data collated from spying that he overlooked the little details in front of him?
has Leeds been spied on by other managers too?
These and so many other burning questions will remain unanswered.
Now, Leeds United had to it the hard way, earn their promotion into the EPL through the playoffs alongside 3 other rivals, West Brom, Aston Villa and either of Derby County, Middlesbrough and even Bristol City.
Whether Bielsa's spying is responsible for his team's promotion charge collapse remains to be seen, however, spying, in an old wise saying;
Spying is always an expensive method of acquiring information - Muriel Lester
Thank you all for your time.
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