Leeds United v Swansea 29th November 2023 at Elland Road please log in to view this image Despite all the best laid plans in getting to the game early today, as usual it didn’t happen. I called at the White Rose Centre first and left in plenty of time for the game only to see traffic queues everywhere. After deciding to go the back way to Elland Road, I was back where I started after thirty minutes and eventually got to Elland Road at 7.30pm. I decided that there was no point in stressing if I was going to miss kick off and what will be will be. Team: Meslier, Struijk, Rodon, Byram, Rutter, Summerville, James, Gray, Ampadu, Kamara, Piroe. Subs: Gnonto for James (70), Bamford for Rutter (70), Firpo for Byram (80), Anthony for Summerville (80), Cooper for Struijk (89). Subs not used: Darlow, Gruev, Poveda, Spence. Leeds won the game 3-1 with Piroe (4), Rutter (45) and James (61) scoring the Leeds goals. Attendance: 34,9905 with approximately 1,650 Swansea fans. Referee: Sam Allison. Booked: None from Leeds. Luckily, I did get in just before kick-off and in time for the minutes applause for Terry Venables who had died. I’d moved my seat to the front of the Kop due to my recent operation and will do the same for the Boro game but will then return to my own seat. I had hardly been in my seat before we had the ball in the net in front of the south stand. Suddenly, the ball was played back towards the Kop as we were all trying to work out what had happened to the goal. Someone said the ball hadn’t stopped as Swansea ran straight to the Kop and chipped the ball over Meslier into the back of the net to give them a lead. Everyone was mystified as to what had just happened within the first minute. We had hardly caught our breath before Leeds attacked again with Summerville running at the defence then picking Piroe out with a great ball, who put the ball into the net to equalise. All this had happened during the first five minutes of the game. Things quietened down although Swansea kept attacking as well but there weren’t any further clear chances until just before the break. Ampadu sent a great ball over the defence for Rutter to control well, continue to hold the defender off and send a left footed shot into the net to put Leeds in the lead. That was a timely goal just before the whistle blew for half time and his first goal at Elland Road. The second half saw Leeds continue to attack and a third goal by James against his old club, made up for the one disallowed in the first minute. Byram with a great challenge won the ball that was picked up by Rutter just outside the box. He ran at the defence before playing a controlled pass to James who kept going in the penalty area to beat their defence and smash the ball into the net. A great finish which gave Leeds some breathing space. Swansea still managed to see plenty of the ball, but I wasn’t unduly worried, I just didn’t want them to get a goal back to put us under pressure for the last few minutes. As it was, we finished the game with a win and another welcome three points. I just want to say fair play to the Swansea fans who kept supporting their team despite being on the losing side. Sadly, our atmosphere was poor in large parts today for me as you could hear a pin drop at times. It wasn’t too long ago that we would be behind the team like that, and fingers crossed, that will be the case on Saturday when we play Boro. I can remember being at Billy’s statue when we last played Swansea at Elland Road, as a Swansea fan came up to me and asked for a photo as he supported Leeds too. I think it was the playing in white that made me quite like them. After seeing one of our fans break her wrist at Rotherham, it was awful hearing about someone who lost his balance and cracked his head on the floor. He was bleeding badly, and first aid were called out for both of our fans. The way their stand is set out is lethal and if any grounds need safe standing, then this is definitely one of them that needs them sooner rather than later. Having started to worry that trouble was following me around again after the Leicester and Rotherham games, I can thank my mum up in heaven for looking after me yesterday. Luckily, I delayed coming out of a cubicle at the White Rose Centre by 15 seconds. An almighty crash happened as I touched the door handle and came out to glass everywhere as a mirror had fallen off the wall. Without that hesitation, it would have hit me full on, so I thank my lucky stars. I was glad to get home before the snow started so hopefully everyone had a safe journey. See you Saturday unless you think it’s better to give me a wide berth lol! 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 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
Some great photos again Heidi If anyone was five minutes late to the game and could hear what was happening I think they would have been really confused by the start!
I was almost that guy. I arrived a minute late, & emerged from the lav to a huge cheer. A second or two later, chuffed to bits, I got to see a tv before I got to my seat, only to see Swansea score. I was really confused, as it looked like a replay on the telly, & I couldn't work out why there was such a loud cheer for them scoring! The rest, as they say, is history. At least we didn't have to wait long for a superb equaliser.
It confused everyone around us as we thought we’d scored but then everything happened so fast and then they scored. Think the team must have been still celebrating but were caught out. Still haven’t seen what happened on a replay though.
Swansea were only supporting Yannick Bolasie Good of them to leave M62 open for journey back too, just about got in before the snow
