Leeds United v Birmingham City 1st January 2024 at Elland Road please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image I hope everyone enjoyed the start to the New Year plus it was nice to see Leeds get a win at home for our first game. It was also a great birthday present for my sister Erica so happy birthday to her. Another three points gives us 48, sees us in fourth place but also in a better position than I dared hope after the long-prolonged takeover and rats leaving the sinking ship at the start of the season. Just keep getting as many points as we can and see where we are nearer the end of the season. Team: Klaesson (making his debut), Cooper (captain), Gray, Rodon, Byram, Summerville, Bamford, James, Ampadu, Kamara, Rutter. Subs: Firpo for Byram (injured 18), Triple sub (74), Piroe for Bamford, Anthony for James, Gnonto for Summerville, Poveda for Rutter (85). Subs not Used: Van Den Heuvel, Joseph, Gruev, Spence. Leeds won the game 3-0 with Bamford (34), James (45+1), Summerville (67) scoring the Leeds goals. Attendance: 36,086 with approximately 2,200 Birmingham fans. Referee: Keith Stroud. Booked: None from Leeds. After hearing that Bamford was starting along with Klaesson, I felt that we would do alright today. I’d had a couple of conversations over the last few days about both players. I’d said that if you remember, when Bamford was subbed every game, he didn’t play well, but once he had a regular start in the team, he played his best football for us. With Klaesson, I was really pleased to see him in the team too although sorry to hear that Darlow had a dislocated finger. I like Klaesson and think we will be in good hands with him and pleased that he did well on his debut. Up against Wayne Rooney’s Birmingham, I wouldn’t take anything for granted despite how they’ve been playing. Leeds started the game well with Rutter coming close and then Bamford forcing their keeper to make a save. Sadly, for us the sting was taken out of the game when Byram went down injured in the early stages and had to be replaced. Firpo came on to replace him and made an impact straight away. Running down the wing with Summerville just to the side of him, Rutter sent a great ball through for the latter to hit a shot which was saved by their keeper and Firpo got the rebound which was then picked up by James. Their keeper didn’t know much about James’s shot, but he managed to block it as they cleared the ball. Leeds had another attack, and the ball was sent out to James on the right whose pinpoint cross saw Bamford head the ball into the net for his first goal of the season to take a welcome lead. In injury time a great piece of football between Firpo and Summerville saw Firpo beat the defender get to the byline and send a great low cross into the box which was hit first time by James into the net despite the keeper. That was a relief for me because Birmingham were very fast on the break which showed shortly afterwards, as they got into a good position to shoot. Klaesson pulled off a very important save as he scooped the ball from underneath him and away. At half time although I can take banter, I don’t like smart ar*es. After the 7th or 8th time of a fella saying I had pi**ed in the flask of tea that my granddaughter didn’t like the smell of, I ended up telling him to f**k off. I don’t swear often (unless I get nervous during the game), but it felt like the only thing to shut him up. Maybe he disappeared for the start of the second half, but it would be nice to think he got the message! The second half saw Leeds come close to scoring a third as from a Birmingham clearance Bamford picked up the ball which reached Summerville. The ball came into Bamford’s path only to see his shot rebound back off the post and James’s follow up saw the head of a Birmingham player in the way as it went out for a corner. Some great football was played for Leeds to get that third goal on the day. The move started by Firpo, Bamford, Summerville, Ampadu and Rutter, saw Rutter lift the ball over the defence for Firpo to run into the area. He pulled the ball back for Summerville to send his shot into the bottom left of the goal to score (looking from the Kop) as Bamford jumped out of the way. Despite cries of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” to Rooney, they still felt dangerous on the break to me. I’m pleased my fears were unfounded as we got the win we deserved. Next week sees us travel to Peterborough for our third round FA Cup tie. I know I repeat myself on an annual basis as the FA Cup will always be important to me. Seeing Leeds United at Wembley in 1972 winning the FA Cup for the only time in our history, it will always be my favourite game. I want to see us win it again so every year I will hope for the same to happen. See you there, 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 please log in to view this image
The important question, why did the tea smell Just kidding Great photos and good to see virtually everyone looking happy
Great post as ever Heidi and much happier read when we’ve won. Am I going mad but I thought Klaesson played once before when Meslier was out?
Think he came on as a sub when Meslier had to go off injured. Was it Wolves away in the PL when we won 3-2 ?
The flask had been in the dishwasher but the granules from the previous drink for some reason stayed put.
