Repsonding to Pressure - 5 Star United Seven Points from Heaven
“It’s a big win. It’s up to West Brom and Leeds to come up with an answer”. It isn’t the first time Brentford boss Thomas Frank has tried to play mind games with Leeds United this season. Prior to the meeting between the two sides when only 2 points seperated the sides, he predicted Leeds will “fear” their trip to West London. Leeds responded that night in February with a fantastic performance that arguably deserved more than the point they earnt to hold their ground in the division. Early evening yesterday, the Whites once again responded to Frank’s attempt to crank up the pressure on them emphatically.
Had the stands inside Elland Road of been full last night, pre-game it would of been an atmosphere of nerves and twitchyness despite the good performance and result last time out at Blackburn. The demons of last year no doubt being in the subconciousness of fans and players alike. Add to that the relentless form of Brentford since the restart and West Brom also finding their form at just the right time with 3 consecutive wins after a slow start to the return of football. The margain for error was so little, a defeat could of seen Leeds take to the field in their next game at Swansea sitting outside of the top two for the first time since November.
The Sky TV cameras understandably want to showcase the now, three way battle for automatic promotion and the fixtures of Leeds, West Brom and Brentford have been moved around to accomodate their TV slots. But starting from the round of fixtures just gone, Leeds’s rivals will play before the whites in FOUR of the last FIVE games, and the last round of fixtures have to take place simulatneously anyways. Different people have different views on how much affect that actually has on teams.
However, Leeds found themselves in the same situation last year when Sheffield United also played before Leeds in 4 of the last 5 games. In the first of those games the Blades had dropped two points to Millwall thanks to a last minute concession and Elland Road smelt blood and in a buoyant mood defeated the other Sheffield club in Wednesday to move 3 points clear. Five days later on Good Friday a lunchtime kick off saw Sheff Utd claim all 3 points against Forest to move above Leeds on goal difference before Leeds’s ill fated defeat to 10 man Wigan. The atmosphere amongst fans in those two games could not of been any different. When Sheffield United were beating Hull 3-0 at half time as Leeds were arriving at Griffin Park for their game with Brentford the pressure was cranked to the max and Leeds buckled. It seemed hardly fair that Leeds didn’t get a chance to put the pressure on the Blades themselves.
Captain Liam Cooper has admitted after the Stoke game that the players have been watching the games unfold before theirs and that he personally is not enjoying a minute of this condensed mini sprint to the finish line. But in no way could you tell that as Leeds tore apart a sorry Stoke side with their most accomplished perfomance of the season and their biggest win under Marcelo Bielsa. You wondered when Patrick Bamford’s effort was cleared of the line and Tyler Robert’s follow up was somehow blocked in the first-half if it was going be one of those all to familiar games where Leeds pay for not taking chances. But perfectly timed goals either side of half-time gave Leeds the freedom to dismantle Stoke who looked like they were wishing the minutes away to get off the pitch.
In another big weekend of Championship action Brentford have a tough looking trip at Derby who really need a win to keep their play-offs hopes alive and West Brom visit Ewood Park where they will try an emulate Leeds’ result there last weekend all before Leeds face (also) play off chasers Swansea.
They will try and put the pressure on but Leeds’s proved yesterday they are battle hardened from last year and will not surrender easily.
Leeds United have their destiny in their own hands. Back over to you Thomas......
By Lawrence O’Sullivan