Swansea v Leeds United 13th February 2024 at Swansea.com Stadium please log in to view this image please log in to view this image With games coming thick and fast, today saw our trip to South Wales and although I saw predictions of 3-0 by some of our fans, I certainly didn’t expect to see the final score of 4-0 to Leeds. Two early goals put us in charge from the start and again in reality, it was another one-sided game for us. After last season’s relegation, this is a breath of fresh air to watch a team who play for each other. I can’t underestimate Daniel Farke’s role in the way we play either and long may it continue. Although it was another long journey for us travelling from the north, we had a good run down managing a 2-1/2 hour pub stop in Neath before getting to the game over an hour before kick-off. Before we got there someone mentioned slagheaps that were left from the pits in the area, and I immediately thought of the Aberfan disaster in 1966. The memories of the primary school being engulfed by the hill slipping into it and killing so many children and adults are still as vivid all the years later and it is still as upsetting now as it was then. The trip back was just as good with no issues, arriving home at 4.30am. I wasn’t being antisocial when I chose a seat to myself, it was so I could put my feet up to try and avoid a repetition of my swollen legs I had since the Plymouth game a week ago, especially since I forgot to put my flight socks on this morning! What with sleeping, listening to Westlife, The Carpenters, Phil Collins and a bit of Motown, both journeys passed very quickly. Thank you to everyone who told me they liked what I am doing with my blogs and photos which as always, is greatly appreciated. Team: Meslier, Ampadu, Rodon, Gray, Summerville, Rutter, Kamara, Gnonto, Piroe, Firpo, Gruev. Subs: Anthony for Summerville (72), James for Gnonto (72), Roberts for Gray (77), Joseph for Rutter (77), Gelhardt for Piroe (87). Subs not used: Klaesson, van den Heuvel, Cooper, Cresswell. Leeds won the game 4-0 with Summerville (8), Piroe (10) and a brace from Gnonto (35, 72). Attendance: 17,897, 1,971 Leeds fans. Referee: David Webb. Booked: Piroe. Within 10 minutes, Leeds scored two goals to put us on the front foot. Summerville was the first to put the ball into the net after Gruev’s pass when his shot was deflected into the net. Two minutes later with Swansea trying to claim for offside but their player on the wing played Piroe on from Rodon’s pass, a one two with Gnonto saw Piroe hit a shot that was too hard for the keeper to hold to give us a second goal. That set the tone for the game as Leeds were in control for most of the game then. There was always the chance that Swansea could pull one back though, so a two-goal lead was not enough as far as I was concerned. On 29 minutes a photo of a Swansea fan Chris Brown was put up who had died, and the club had asked for a minute’s applause which all the Leeds fans joined in with. What did surprise me was seeing play stop on the pitch with the players and referee joining in. When another fast attack saw Summerville pass the ball into the middle for Gnonto the keeper saved his shot before Swansea had their best chance of the game, forcing Meslier to make a good save with his foot. Rutter had a shot saved and then I got my wish for a third goal not long after the applause. A fantastic ball from Gray to Gnonto saw him take the ball into the penalty area, change feet and then hit the ball into the bottom right-hand corner with the defender left on his backside. There were smiles and happy faces all around the away end as the whistle blew for half time. We couldn’t have asked for a better start than this. It’s the first time I’ve seen a club take our mascot out at half time so well done to Swansea as it was good to see. I think they also did well with their stewarding as it felt very low key. Swansea came out with some fight in them at the start of the second half having a couple of chances, but Leeds kept counter attacking. As Farke was getting ready to bring our first subs on, Summerville sent a great ball through to Gnonto in the middle who carried on putting the ball past the keeper for our fourth goal on the night. Wow, I couldn’t stop smiling and laughing as this was beyond anything I expected today. It was great to hear that we had gone up to second place as Southampton had lost to Bristol City. I would love for us to stay in that position in an automatic place for promotion and have our destiny in our own hands, but we all know what happens in football, there are no guarantees. We just need to keep playing and enjoying what we are doing. As I said this morning, as long as we are trying and doing our best, we stand a chance. It was good to catch up with a lot of our Welsh fans today who for once had a short journey home but will enjoy the bragging rights. It was also nice to meet a fan who had returned from Brisbane just so he could watch Leeds United play live. The atmosphere was good too and it was good to see my flag (as well as me holding it) on the Leeds United Twitter account at the end of the game. Saturday sees us return to Plymouth for the league game with a 3am departure from Leeds for the coach. I would hope there will be less traffic on the road then, but I do like to allow plenty of time to get to Leeds but hopefully not 1-3/4 hours early as today! See you on Saturday, LUFC – Marching on Together! please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
Brilliant as always. One question though. Angus always seems to be sitting like a lad with piles leaning forward
Fabulous that Heidi. Never mind the likes of Wilko, I think the club should have a Heidi Haigh Statue built
