Plymouth v Leeds United 17th February 2024 at Home Park please log in to view this image please log in to view this image It was back to Plymouth for our second visit in just under two weeks but this time in the league. After Leeds beating them in the FA Cup firstly, I knew they’d be up for revenge so it’s nice to know that we managed another win together with a clean sheet once again, keeping our unbeaten run going. Some of our fans had stayed down south after the Swansea game midweek, with others travelling down yesterday. I was one of those who must be mad, that were travelling down in the same day, leaving Leeds at 3am. To be honest though, it was better leaving early for the lunchtime kick off and getting back to Leeds before 10pm than setting off at 9.30am and getting back the next day at 6.30am for me. I also found my elusive flight socks that I couldn’t find after getting them out of my suitcase last week. If only I’d have looked at the bottom of my bag that I had with me, I would have found I had them all along! Although, I allowed plenty of time again to get there, I decided to leave home at 1.50am and then couldn’t even get out of Rastrick. Two minutes from home there was a white van parked sideways blocking the road with the police already there, so I was glad I hadn’t left earlier. I did a detour and then couldn’t get off the M621 at Elland Road so had another detour. Luckily for us, those were the only two we had on the day and had a good journey there and back. I hadn’t gone to sleep before leaving for the coach as I thought I’d sleep on board the coach, but realised very quickly that I was very agitated and probably over tired. It took a bit, but after listening to first Westlife and then Love songs for the rest of the journey, I was able to calm down, relax and manage a lot of sleep. We had a two hour stop at Newton Abbott and I was in pain by the time we got there, but stronger painkillers did the trick. We got to the ground with an hour to spare and although the rain kept coming very finely, luckily it was nothing like what we had to endure at the cup game. Team: Meslier, Ampadu, Rodon, Gray, Kamara, Summerville, Rutter, Gnonto, Gruev, Firpo, Piroe. Subs: James for Gnonto, (76), Roberts for Summerville (83), Joseph for Rutter (90), Gelhardt for Piroe (90). Subs not used: Klaesson, van den Heuvel, Cooper, Shackleton, Cresswell. Leeds won the game 2-0 with Gnonto (10) and Rutter (72) scoring the goals. Attendance: 16,818 with 1,739 Leeds fans. Referee: Matthew Donohue. Booked: Rodon. Once again Leeds took a welcome early lead in a move that started with Gruev, before Rutter lifted the ball over the defence for Gnonto to run onto, beat the defender and hit the ball into the net off the post. Gnonto was then involved in defending on the right wing as Gray pressed further forward. The game was fairly even but Rutter was very unlucky not to increase our lead after good work from Piroe, when his shot deflected and come back out off the post. The early goal from Gnonto saw Leeds hold the narrow scoreline as we went in at the break. The second half saw Plymouth come out with renewed vigour, looking determined to equalise. I didn’t want them to get anything as that could open up the floodgates as far as I was concerned. We were under quite a bit of pressure, and I felt that we should change things and then it was pointed out there were only 56 minutes on the clock. Farke doesn’t tend to change things so early, then I thought we will have to learn to defend and keep the ball out plus, we can also suddenly turn an attack into a goal so maybe it wasn’t a bad thing. Meslier had to make a couple of saves before Leeds increased our lead. Once again in a movement involving Piroe and Rutter, this time saw Rutter hit a low shot into the net in front of the ecstatic Leeds fans. That was the goal needed to give us a little breathing space and when substitute James came on and won a free kick at the edge of the box, he was so unlucky to see the ball bounce back off the crossbar. Leeds managed to keep Plymouth out and get another valuable three points to go back into second place swapping with Southampton who beat West Brom yesterday. It was good to catch up with so many of our fans today including some of our Plymouth Whites, and this camaraderie is what being a Leeds fan is all about and something I love. I talk to everyone, take photos of fans and am very happy in their company and as one of my friends pointed out earlier in the day, I am a people person which I would say is definitely true. I put my flag up at the side of the stand which will now need a wash before the Leicester game on Friday. I will be meeting up with most of the group of people involved in the Billy Bremner memorial initiative we are aiming for in Raploch. Saturday will see many fans who were in Paris 1975 at the European Cup Final including myself, get together to share stories so am looking forward to both. 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
Got a week's respite before Chelsea but at least have some recovery time now. A great win makes up for it all though.
