Rotherham v Leeds United 24th November 2023 at The Asseal New York Stadium please log in to view this image Back to football after the international break with the short visit for a lot of us to Rotherham, on a bitter cold evening. There aren’t any easy games in this division but as long as we give our all, we stand a chance of getting something from the game. Whilst getting a draw and a welcome point feels disappointing, the positive thing is that we didn’t get beaten. Team: Meslier, Cooper (captain), Rodon, Ampadu, Firpo, James, Rutter, Summerville, Kamara, Gray, Piroe. Subs: Bamford for Rutter (70), Poveda for Kamara (70), Gnonto for Firpo (70), Struijk for Cooper (80), Anthony for James (85). Subs not used: Darlow, Ayling, Byram, Gruev. Leeds drew the game 1-1 with Summerville scoring for Leeds (7). Attendance: 11,471, 2,229 Leeds fans. Referee: Oliver Langford. Booked: None for Leeds. After feeling very weak before leaving home for the coach from Leeds, I can honestly say that the feelgood factor from being amongst our fans, the talking, supporting each other, taking photos etc, are the best tonic I could ask for. I’d moved my seat to the front of the stand again after my recent operation and was thankful that someone swapped with me so I could be right at the front. Even though I had to stand up for most of the game, I did need to sit down a few times. Leeds got off to a great start as we attacked the goal at the far side of the ground with Rutter sending Summerville through who went on to put the ball into the net to give us an early lead. Leeds fans in the home stand next to us blew their cover and were brought into the away stand. Although Leeds continued to have a lot of possession, apart from Summerville having a shot saved by their keeper and both teams seeing shots go over the bar, there weren’t any clear chances. I think Summerville took one step too many before shooting, giving the keeper time to save it. With a minute of injury time on the board, Leeds switched off at the wrong time as Rotherham got the better of our defence to equalise. This goal then gave Rotherham the impetus at the start of the second half as they came out fighting. Ampadu looked like he’d get to the ball and slowed down to head it back to Meslier only to see their player get between them both. He hit the ball past Meslier but thankfully Cooper was behind him, and the ball hit the back of his foot and bounced away to prevent Rotherham from taking the lead. They got on top for a while as they continued to attack, and I felt it was time to make some substitutes and saw Farke was bringing on three. Whatever formation we made from this though it felt like a bit of a mis match as Rotherham were still on the attack. Cooper went off with what looked like his hamstring again and Struijk was brought on. He was unlucky with a header going narrowly wide after a cross from James. Prior to this, James was brought down with a bad foul in the penalty area which the referee played on from and the linesman didn’t put his flag up either. Seeing this afterwards, their player ex Leeds player Peltier should have been sent off for a studs up foul but got away with it. Bamford hit a long range shot which is what I wanted us to try rather than walk the ball into the net, catch them unawares and it nearly worked. With minutes of the game left, Gnonto down the far side sent a cross into the penalty area which Anthony put into the net to give us the lead, or so we thought, as the linesman put his flag up for offside. A lad had jumped straight over the wall in celebration and was led away by the stewards. As I turned around, I realised there was a woman laid on the floor behind me who was in a bad way. As I spoke to her she said she’d hurt her hand when she landed from the row above after being pushed. Everyone around us was very concerned about her and to be honest I didn’t see anything else of the game as we all tried to help. I shouted a steward and said we needed the first aiders there as someone was hurt. We managed to get her sat on a seat, but she felt sick and wouldn’t move any further. The first aiders came but some were very young and didn’t really know what to do. I put my arm around her as she started shaking like mad and I said she was going into shock. After trying to move her hand she was in too much pain and eventually they put a sling on her and brought some foil to keep her warm. The man with her had been hurt on his leg too. When I asked where she was from, she said London, and she was the driver. I asked a young lad to let me know how she was as I had to go for my coach then as they were taken with the first aiders, but I’d be very surprised to find out that her hand isn’t broken. The way the seats are set out on the stand are exactly the same as Aston Villa when I had someone fall on me from the row above and they are lethal. Safe standing should be paramount with these stands as it would prevent what is sadly happening on a regular basis. Going to the ladies before getting on the coach, we found that only three toilets were usable for us females because lads had already been in there. It wouldn’t be so bad, but they left them in a dreadful state as they pis*ed all over the seats as well as the floor! Someone else also had grazed shins from when we “scored the winner!” It was disappointing to have the goal chalked off and coming away with a draw instead of a late win. That said, the first half was the difference in my opinion when we should have taken the game by the scruff of the neck after the early goal. We have two more home games this week so we need to make them count. A word of warning for anyone travelling West on the M62 after the Swansea game as it will be shut between junctions 27 and 26 as I found out tonight after 8pm. See you then, 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
Wow you were up late! Great photos as always, and I agree we should have put them to bed first half. But we go again! If Ipswich and Saints lose, its a point gained!!
It’s easier just to get it posted then go to bed. Sometimes I do fall asleep through it which makes it take even longer to do. Got to take the positive that we didn’t get beaten. Ups and downs again.
Yep, point gained on Ipswich, saints only managed a draw as well. West Brom sneaking up behind us a well, but we just need to worry about ourselves
To be honest I only concentrate on Leeds as it's a good coping mechanism not worrying about anyone else.
