Firpo, Gracia and a new Leeds United?

And breathe…

God, how I’ve missed that feeling.

It’s been 112 days since Leeds United last recorded a Premier League win, almost a third of a year. There was the brief distraction of the World Cup and the January window which promised shiny new players for Leeds fans to distract themselves with, but during the last few games of Marsch’s tenure there was an increasing sense of desperation and despair. Leeds were a team lacking identity, lacking quality and (in fairness) lacking in luck. Towards the end even the fight and desire that has come to symbolize Leeds United in recent years began to fade, with Patrick Bamford’s comments post-Forest alluding to discontent with the playing style amongst the dressing room.

Something had to change. There seemed to be a sudden change in attitude at boardroom level after the Forest game, arguably one of Leeds’ most depressing second-half performances in living memory. Adam has already covered the absolute car-crash that was Leeds United’s managerial hunt (which you can read on the website), but a saga where you could almost hear the clown music playing finally concluded when Leeds announced the appointment of Javi Gracia on a deal until the end of the season. Gracia walked into a difficult situation, with relations between the fans and board at a low point, and with Leeds sat in 19th and a very precarious position. His first home game: 20th placed Southampton, fresh off the back of an outstanding win at Stamford Bridge and the appointment of Ruben Selles as manager for the rest of the season. Leeds started the game brightly, with Gnonto being his usual exciting self and Brenden Aaronson looking more like the player Leeds paid £25m for, flashing a shot wide on 21 mins. Luke Ayling could’ve done better with his chance at the back post before a slip from the right-back let Stuart Armstrong in down the left, with the Scotsman snatching at his shot, sending the ball into the side netting of the near post. Jack Harrison then sent a looping strike over the top from 25 yards, before Leeds pressed superbly to create a two-v-one with Mckennie and Aaronson racing through. Alas the on-loan Juventus man’s pass was behind his compatriot and the chance evaporated as quickly as it appeared. Southampton then went straight up the other end and created a chance of their own, with new signing Paul Onuachu only managing to place his shot into the welcoming arms of Ilan Meslier.

The Frenchman’s goal was rarely troubled this afternoon, and the justified fears of many Leeds fans regarding the danger of James Ward-Prowse’s free-kicks were soothed as Leeds contrived to reduce the number of fouls conceded around the penalty area. Unfortunately, Leeds’ successful defensive set-piece strategy was not replicated in their attacking corners, with collective groans from the Elland Road faithful every time another delivery failed to beat the first man. They did eventually create an opportunity from a set-piece, with Mckennie failing to keep his shot down and lifting the ball over the bar after the ball broke from a corner.

The Whites didn’t begin the second-half particularly well but the introduction of Cryscensio Summerville (much to Gnonto’s annoyance) sparked some life into the Leeds attack, with Kyle Walker-Peters being forced into an excellent block on 72 mins. Record-signing Georginio Rutter was also sent on to replace Aaronson and looked lively both supporting Bamford and with a couple of dribbles late in the game when he was tasked with the lone striker role.

The moment everyone had been waiting for finally arrived in the 77th minute when Jack Harrison brilliantly backheeled the ball into the path of Junior Firpo, who squeezed a right-footed shot under the body of Gavin Bazunu. In an interview this week the Spaniard had explained in an interview that he prefers Elland Road to the Camp Nou, and he certainly will have enjoyed the immense feeling of relief experienced by both the players and the long-suffering crowd. The outpouring of joy as the ball hit the net was a reminder of how Firpo has toiled at Leeds, but there is a sense he might be starting to turn a corner. Good performances against Man United and Everton have been followed up with a man-of-the-match worthy display today, and him and Willy Gnonto (booked for excessive celebration despite not being on the pitch) do seem to ‘get’ the club. He will be hoping this upturn in form will continue to better his relationship with the fans, and a fist-pump to the South Stand after a win rarely goes wrong.

Leeds continued to impress even at 1-0, with the arrival of Marc Roca stabilizing the midfield and the front three showing flashes of talent, and Leeds could’ve doubled their lead had Summerville passed to Harrison late on. Instead the young Dutchman elected to take on his man and flashed a shot across Gavin Bazunu’s goal and just wide of the far post. And what of Gracia? The new man celebrated the goal with relief, a wide grin on his face as he embraced Darko Gyabi. He delivered a first league win since the 5th of November, and whilst the performance cannot be described as complete it was certainly better. Leeds looked more solid at the back without compromising their attacking talent, and the difference to the previous management is perhaps best summed up in Gracia’s post-match comments. ‘We won but next week we will play much better’. Welcome Javi.

Perhaps this will be an era of results over performances and a Junior Firpo revival? Let a man dream, but today was a great start and an important three points where it could hardly have been more needed.

By Joseph Hamilton / @jhscouting