Thanks for joining me for such a big day in Leeds’ recent history.
Here is the report.
I hope Bryn Law takes a few minutes to calm down before driving back home. It’s nice to hear someone in the media be so excited by a goal, sometimes you lose your passion for a team after so many years of neutrality and professionalism.
A lovely finish from Clucas helped Stoke to victory.
What a finish! 🎯
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) July 12, 2020
Sam Clucas bends one into the top corner to double Stoke's lead!
📺 Watch live on Sky Sports Football!
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There is more football, do not worry.
Leeds are six points clear of third. So very, very close to the Premier League.
Stoke won 2-0, you will all be pleased to know. O’Neill’s side are now in 17th with three games today but only four points above the drop zone.
Thursday could be the night Leeds go up, depending on how Brentford do midweek. Exciting times for Bielsa et al.
Swansea did not use their changes very well at all in this game and that has cost them in the end. Bidwell looked like he had very little to give just before the goal was scored and Cooper did nothing. The Swansea boss needs to be smarter.
I am very pleased for Bryn Law. He seems worryingly excited about it all. When promotion is confirmed, I am worried he might explode reaching a new high note.
Full-time
Leeds win! What a huge moment on their quest to return to the Premier League, as they move six points clear of third. It was a tense 100 minutes overall for everyone involved but Bielsa’s love of fitness made the difference in the end, as Leeds just had a little edge which helped them break and score the winner.
Updated
90+6 mins: Leeds struggle with paperwork and take an age to make another change as Berardi replaces Harrison.
90+4 mins: A bit of a delay as Woodman goes down with a hip issue and he looks in absolute agony on the turf. He tries and fails to get up. Mulder is coming on.
90+2 mins: Swansea have now made a load of changes. Everyone could see that Swansea were very tired but Cooper did nothing. Not a clever move from the Swans head coach. Tiredness was one of he reasons Leeds broke so easily.
90 mins: Bryn Law lost the plot when that went in. Fair play.
Five minutes added on.
GOAL! Swansea 0-1 Leeds (Hernandez, 89)
Ayling brings the ball out from the back, sends it into Klich and the ball ends up with the Leeds full-back at the opposition byline, he pulls it back into the feet of Hernandez, who takes a touch and directs it into the corner. What a huge goal for Leeds.
Updated
87 mins: Routledge is chasing the ball around a lot without providing any actual use going forward.
85 mins: If you like watching really knackered professional footballers, then the final five minutes or so here could be for you. Many of those on the pitch are looking very tired.
Leeds have some nice buildup play, working it around on the edge of the box before laying it back to Hernandez but the Spaniard’s shot flies up and over.
83 mins: Bryn Law on commentary describes this as “one of the tenses matches I’ve ever attended”. Calm down, Bryn.
Harrison looks to play a glamour ball through for Bamford but Cabango reads it and intercepts before the situation can get dangerous.
81 mins: The ball finally hits the back of the net. Sadly, Ayew is adjudged offside even before he gets his cross onto Roberts’ head for the defender to divert over the goalkeeper.
Routledge replaces Brewster.
79 mins: Meslier catches a corner and initiates a counter attack with a throw to Hernandez who sends it forward for Costa but the winger is adjudged to be offside.
77 mins: Pablo Herndandez role nowadays seems to be to find sublime long passes. I remember when he used to run around a lot.
Swansea are yet to make a change. The thing that is forgotten about this game is that they really need to win to keep the momentum in their promotion push as they face a few tough games after this. You’d think Celina or Routledge could make a difference against a tiring defence.
Updated
75 mins: Harrison clears out Roberts with a late challenge. The winger caught the defender around the knee, which made it look worse. A booking is handed out to the Manchester City loanee.
73 mins: Ayew needs treatment after being caught on the back of the head by Cooper when challenging for the ball.
71 mins: We had a drinks break. I down a glass of Picpoul de Pinet.
Bamford dispossess Grimes on the halfway line, he then slides the pass out to Harrison who picks it up and then looks for Alioski on the overlap but the pass goes straight out of plat.
69 mins: Costa’s shot it blocked but bounces into the path of Ayling, who whacks a rising shot well over the bar from about 25 yards.
67 mins: Bamford really should have scored. You have to assume if/when Leeds go up that he will be replaced by someone a bit more clinical.
65 mins: WHAT A SAVE! Leeds should be ahead after a wonderful ball into the box by Hernandez is volleyed by Harrison onto Bamford who finds space six yards from goal and sends a diving header on target but Woodman reacts superbly to repel it.
Updated
63 mins: Grimes chips a pass into the box which Cooper miscontrols, giving Brewster a sniff but the loanee can’t get hold of it and Leeds clear at the second time of asking.
61 mins: Hilarious stuff as Guehi takes the worst throw-in I have ever seen, taking both feet off the ground. He is rightly called out for his in incompetence and it is deemed a foul throw.
Ayew whacks into the back of Alioski - it looks like catches him in the calf. Not the best from the Swan.
59 mins: Bamford up against Guehi, Cabango and Naughton seems particularly unfair. Bielsa needs to get the striker some support.
57 mins: Swansea get a corner down the other end after good work by Bidwell. Grimes takes an outswinger from the left towards the edge of the box but Harrison heads it away. The ball is sent back into the box but Guehi’s header goes well over.
55 mins: Harrison curls in a corner from the right that Swansea need a couple of chances before they successfully clear it.
53 mins: Just as I say that, Gallagher gets himself into the area, getting just enough space to hit a rising shot which Meslier tips over.
51 mins: Ayling is the one creating problems again down the right, receiving the ball into the box but his cross is diverted into the arms of Woodman. Leeds have certainly started the brighter here.
49 mins: Ayling sends in a dangerous cross which makes it way to Harrison but he swipes at it and sends it backwards.
47 mins: Hernandez and Alioski came on at the break for Leeds. Roberts and Dallas the ones to make way.
Second half
Here we go again!
Dorigo is back from his capitalist bunker. He seems suspicious that players are quite tired.
Get this in your ears.
Half-time
It has all been frightfully even so far. Bamford had the best chance of an incredibly tight opening 45 minutes but that is about the only time he has touched the ball.
Updated
45 mins: Three minutes added on.
44 mins: Swansea will just want to get through to half-time now. Leeds are dominating possession and the Swans are looking a little tired already.
Ps Stoke have doubled their lead.
42 mins: Leeds are looking to break Swansea down but their final ball is really letting them down at the moment.
40 mins: Leeds break on Swansea, ending with Costa dribbling into the box but his final delivery is poor and goes straight to Woodman.
38 mins: Bidwell miskicks it and ends up sending a looping pass back to Woodman, who deals with it well by volleying it clear at the first time of asking.
36 mins: All a bit scrappy here. There have been a few fouls in quick succession. Maybe the players are starting to get tired in the sun, which would be no surprise due to the schedule they have endured recently.
The ball is sent into the box, it is headed down for Ayew to attack, he gets there before the goalkeeper but ends up at a poor angle and can’t get a shot away, allowing Leeds to clear.
Updated
34 mins: Another yellow as Fulton has his name taken for giving Harrison a non-too-kind tap on the ankles.
“Update from the Bet365 where 10 minutes after the drinks break the Potters are up 1-0 and could easily be up at least 3-0,” JR says. “Birmingham look like a pile of trash.
“One of the great things about the Championship is that when a goal is scored it stays scored. No VAR around to make the wrong call and ruin things, although I’ve gotten so used to VAR I now expect all goals to be ruled out.”
Birmingham certainly are dross.
32 mins: Klich is now cautioned for bringing down Gallagher on the right wing. Grimes gets another chance to send in a set-piece - his delivery is better this time and Cabango gets to it but can only flick it wide.
Leeds then break down the other end, with the ball making its way to Bamford, who controls it and gets a shot off from 18 yards but it is straight at Woodman.
30 mins: Brewster is booked for needlessly kicking the ball away. Not a great idea, mate.
Ayew earns a free-kick after being pulled down by Phillips 45 yards from goal. The set-piece is limped into the box by Grimes but it is easily cleared.
28 mins: Ayling plays a lovely pass to Klich, who cuts in and lays it off to Dallas. The full-back lets off a shot from 25 yards, which bounces dangerously just in front of Woodman but he manages to palm it clear of danger.
26 mins: Dorigo randomly turns up during the drinks break. No idea where he is. Possibly in his heavily-branded living room.
Play begins once more.
24 mins: A relatively aimless chip into the box is diverted behind by Naughton despite his goalkeeper being half a yard behind him and ready to claim. Luckily, for the defender, the corner comes to nothing.
Drinks break!
Updated
22 mins: Phillips whips in another corner to the front post, which Ayling tries to flick towards goal but it goes about 10 yards wide.
20 mins: Ayew tries to slice open the defence with a pass but it is read and cleared. The ball makes it way to Fulton who leans back and sends his shot well over the bar from about 25 yards.
18 mins: Leeds are looking to go quite direct with little success.
Updated
16 mins: Swansea are edging this at the moment. Bamford is yet to have a touch of note. Can Leeds provide some service?
14 mins: Grimes swings in a corner from the right to the front post, which Meslier does well to punch away from his position in the middle of a crowd.
12 mins: Meslier comes out to claim a deep free-kick. I always like the look of the young goalkeeper - he looks pretty steady and is always eager to kickstart an attack.
10 mins: Swansea get their first chance after the ball is worked into the box, Brewster controls it and takes a snapshot from 16 yards but it goes straight at the goalkeeper.
Gallagher drives towards the box, before lining up a shot from 18 yard which is deflected over by a defender’s leg. A good couple of moments for the Swans.
8 mins: Leeds are playing at a high tempo against Swansea, who don’t look like they are used to being closed down so much and have shown a little panic early on.
Updated
6 mins: Gallagher picks it up on the edge of the Leeds box but he is then forced back to the halfway by White. Impressive defending from the centre-back.
4 mins: Another dangerous set-piece is sent into the box by Phillips as his corner causes havoc but it bounces all the way to the back post and it is turned behind once more.
2 mins: Leeds start on the front foot as Ayling drives then forward into the Swansea half, before Phillips earns a free-kick after being bundled over by Gallagher. It is Phillips to swing in the free-kick from 30 yards out, the ball bounces across the box and Naughton is required to turn it behind.
Ezra says: “As a Leeds fan, I’m too nervous to watch this game. As anyone who follows the championship knows, Leeds always found creative ways to self destruct, ranging from baffling spying tactics to fair play gifted goals.Hoping our savior Bielsa can break our curse and return us to where we belong, the Premier League.”
Kick-off
Peep! Peep! Peep! Here we go!
LUTV is a modern day treat. What a world we are in.
A lovely day for it.
⏳ Just over 2️⃣0️⃣ minutes until KO! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/yKy8OqAoWv
— Swansea City AFC (@SwansOfficial) July 12, 2020
A photographic look back at Jack Charlton’s life and times.
Updated
JR, also in America, emails to say: “Hey Will,
“No pressure or anything but I’m counting on you to do a very good job describing the action in this game because I can’t watch it. Not because I have something else to do but because for some reason here in the U.S. they have decided to show Stoke v Birmingham instead of this game.
“I don’t mind watching a good relegation scrap on occasion, and sometimes even prefer one to a game with better teams, but this is not one of those occasions.”
US TV schedulers certainly have issues. I thrive on pressure. I will do my best to describe the 22 men kicking the old pig’s bladder around the green thing for 90 minutes. Go kicking it!
James, from New York, messages to say: “If we go behind I may lose it.”
Certainly an early start in the Big Apple, so a defeat will really ruin the day.
For more Welsh football content, here is Ben Fisher speaking exclusively to Ryan Giggs about all things international football.
As well as the fun at the top, there is an important early kick-off at the bottom in the Championship as Stoke host Birmingham. Michael O’Neill’s side are just one point and place above the relegation zone, which is very worrying for a side who spent so long in the Premier League. Luckily for them, the Blues are in atrocious form and head coach Pep Clotet has departed his role this week, so there is some hope for the Potters.
Swansea have a couple of exciting weeks ahead of them but after that they might be in plenty of trouble.
They have a number of players out of contract in addition to many whose loans finish at the culmination of the season. Kyle Naughton, Mike van der Hoorn, Nathan Dyer, Wayne Routledge and Erwin Mulder only have weeks remaining on their deals, while Freddie Woodman, Marc Guehi, Conor Gallagher, Aldo Kalulu and Rhian Brewster will almost certainly not back next season.
I hope Steve Cooper has a cunning plan ...
Despite Swansea being in with a shout of a playoff spot, Steve Cooper is not really thinking about it.
“We are just talking about the last game and the next game and their current situation in terms of their football performance,” Cooper said.
“That’s my focus with them and their focus with me. It will remain that way while knowing the other stuff might be going on in the background beyond the season.”
Some very sad news for all football fans - but especially Leeds supporters - yesterday after Jack Charlton passed away. The defender spent his entire playing career at Elland Road.
Kevin Mitchell remembers him.
Starting lineups
Swansea: Woodman, Roberts, Naughton, Guehi, Cabango, Bidwell, Fulton, Grimes, Gallagher, Ayew, Brewster
Subs: Mulder, Van der Hoorn, Byers, Dhanda, Celina, Routledge, Dyer, Kalulu, Cullen
Leeds: Meslier, Ayling, White, Cooper, Dallas, Phillips, Klich, Harrison, Costa, Roberts, Bamford
Subs: Miazek, Berardi, Douglas, Struck, Bogusz, Shakleton, Alioski, Poveda, Hernandez
Preamble
Good afternoon!
This game could have a very telling impact in the race for promotion. A Leeds win would see them move five points clear of third-placed Brentford with just three matches to be played. Surely they would not be caught from that position.
Swansea have a lot on their mind too. A win or a draw for the Swans would see them move up into the final play-off spot. The hilarious news for fans is that they would replace Cardiff in sixth. Sadly, for Steve Cooper and his side, Swansea’s next three games are tricky too; away trips to Forest and Reading sandwich Bristol City visiting the Liberty, which is not an ideal run-in. However, it’s nice to have hope.
Leeds could be promoted on Thursday if things go their way in midweek. Ending their *check notes* 16-year absence will welcomed by many Premier League clubs.
Anyway, should be a fun couple of hours!
Kick-off: 1.30pm (BST)
