please log in to view this image please log in to view this image When you are feeling down, the best tonic is to go and spend time with other Leeds fans and family which is exactly what I did last night. Going to the Commercial at Churwell to see Paul Wilson perform his Leeds songs to our Scandinavian, Icelandic and other members of the Leeds United family including my own, did me the world of good. The lift this gave me going to the game today made all the difference and it was nice talking to some of our Irish fans today too. After our euphoric win at Anfield last week which seems a lifetime ago, it was important to get some continuity today. Team: Meslier, Cooper, Roca, Aaronson, Adams, Kristensen, Harrison, Struijk, Summerville, Rodrigo and Koch. Subs: Gnonto for Harrison (45), Greenwood for Roca (54), Gelhardt for Rodrigo (81), Ayling for Aaronson (86). Subs not used: Klaesson, Klich, Llorente, Firpo, Joseph. Leeds won the game 4-3 with Rodrigo (penalty 3), Greenwood (60), Cooper (68), Summerville (84) scoring for Leeds. Attendance: 36,304 with approximately 1,566 Bournemouth fans. Referee: Tony Harrington. Booked: Kristensen, Gelhardt. As the last post played with this being the nearest home game to Armistice, I really felt the sadness with the crowd showing their respect too. Leeds got off to a fantastic start after Summerville was brought down within the first minute of the game. As Rodrigo stepped up to score from the spot Elland Road was bouncing as I said that at least Bournemouth wouldn’t park the bus now as they were behind. Another case of not being able to keep a lead happened when Bournemouth equalised with their first attack of the game shortly afterwards. As they attacked down the flank to the left of us, the cross evaded their man in the middle only to land at the feet of their man all on his own who hit the ball into the net. To make matters worse for us as Bournemouth sprung to life attacking at will, the ball was initially saved by Meslier but their man on the edge of the box hit the ball into the top of the net to put them into the lead. That nearly opened the floodgates for them as they counterattacked with speed getting past all our defence where once again Meslier came to our rescue. Bournemouth used time wasting tactics to the full after this frustrating the team and the fans as boos rang around Elland Road as the half time whistle blew. Seeing the same attacks happen time after time without changing our tactics was so frustrating. Gnonto came on at the start of the second half to replace Harrison. Instead of it boosting the Leeds team, Bournemouth scored a third after racing to the South Stand after our attack broke down to increase their lead within three minutes of the restart. Shell shocked we looked down and out at that point, as we all looked at each other trying to work out how we could be leading 1-0 only to be 3-1 down. The Leeds fans had been quiet but then WACCOEs started to be chanted around the ground as Greenwood replaced Roca. Our build ups were stop, starts and very slow in comparison to Bournemouth so Elland Road erupted when Sam Greenwood hit a fantastic strike into the top corner from the edge of the box to pull one back. Leeds got straight back on with the game as they battled to get back in it. As Cooper headed home to equalise from an Aaronson corner again, we got straight back on with the game. It wasn’t until Gelhardt replaced Rodrigo that the tables turned completely on Bournemouth. After some more great play between Gnonto and Summerville, the latter scored for Leeds to take the lead again amid exhilarating scenes of joy around Elland Road both on the pitch and in the stands. The noise was immense and the backdrop of fireworks in the sky above the ground celebrating with us all was justly deserved. After all their time wasting, it’s funny that Bournemouth didn’t want to waste any more time, but it was Gelhardt who ended up booked when he tried to stop their keeper taking a quick free kick. This time we weren’t going to let the lead slip and Ayling shored up the defence as we came away with another three precious points and a win. Leeds United once again having a great effect on the health of our fans!! Yes, we did have a laugh afterwards, but it certainly isn’t good for the heart as some said. With fans wishing me a Merry Christmas, I was dismayed when I realised that this was the last home game before our next game in December due to the silly World Cup being held for the first time in the middle of our season. With gallows humour we said we’d got our Christmas present but it’s another tradition with the run up to the end of the year that has gone. I know we travel to Wolves next week for the Carabao Cup and then to Spurs next week before the games stop, but this should never have happened in the first place. See you at Wolves, LUFC, Marching on Together with Follow Me and Leeds United. please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
Heidi, when the Cherries went 3-1 up, how loud were the boos? Was it a selected few, or most of the ground?
They were quite loud from a sizeable proportion but I don’t think they were as bad as the Fulham game.
