SUMMERVILLE SETTLES SEVEN-GOAL THRILLER TO NUDGE LEEDS CLOSER TO PROMOTION

It is no longer in their hands but Leeds still retain real hope of securing automatic promotion after reclaiming second place in the Championship following a timely return to form on Teesside.

Given that Michael Carrick’s improving Middlesbrough are nobody’s pushover at the moment, Daniel Farke’s side needed to rediscover the ruthlessness that had deserted them in recent weeks. To the considerable relief of the travelling Leeds fans, Crysencio Summerville, Patrick Bamford and Wilfried Gnonto obliged with potentially vital goals in a thrillingly compelling game that showcased the second tier’s often underrated appeal.

While this restorative win leaves Leeds one point behind the leaders, Leicester, and one ahead of third-placed Ipswich, their two rivals have three games remaining while Farke’s team have just two – at QPR on Friday and at home to Southampton the following Saturday.

From the moment the team sheets were printed Isaiah Jones’s duel with Junior Firpo promised to intrigue and, sure enough, it turned into one of a series of subplots that did not disappoint. Tellingly, Jones had already enjoyed quite a bit of early success against Farke’s left-back when the Middlesbrough right winger shot his side into a seventh-minute lead.

As Illan Meslier and Emmanuel Latte Lath collided, Firpo hesitated, permitting Jones to pounce. The frown lines on Farke’s forehead seemed to deepen but his team responded and won a penalty after Anfernee Dijksteel sent Georginio Rutter crashing as he strove to make amends after being tricked by the Frenchman’s quick feet.

Summerville settled visiting nerves thanks to a textbook conversion before Bamford further banished memories of Leeds’ collection of a solitary point in their previous three games by scoring against his former club.

The visiting centre forward enjoyed two successful spells at the Riverside and had already started to drag Carrick’s defenders out of position when he reminded his former public of his scoring ability.

Firpo showed he is often better at attacking than defending by unleashing a looping cross, and a just onside Bamford timed his run to perfection, catching a flat-footed rearguard cold before using the top of a knee to direct the dropping ball beyond Seny Dieng.

As Boro fans questioned why their goalkeeper had not come for the cross, the visiting fans treated the ground to an ironic rendition of “Leeds are falling apart again”.

It proved a case of tempting fate as Latte Lath shimmied his hips, conjured some space and sent a sublime shot swerving beyond Meslier from the edge of the area after Finn Azaz had done well to seize possession.

At this point it was easy to see why Boro had kicked off unbeaten in their previous nine games and are deeply frustrated to have timed their renaissance too late to make the playoffs. Yet Leeds’ desperation to secure automatic promotion felt palpable and they duly hit back when an arguably just offside Gnonto lashed a rising shot past Dieng after catching Dijksteel daydreaming.

Gnonto, though, had much to thank Archie Gray for after his elegant advance through midfield confounded Carrick’s team. Gray did well at right-back earlier in the season but central midfield is surely his natural home.

Bamford used to joke that the Teesside air suited him and Dieng did well to keep out his curling shot as Leeds ended the first half on top, if not exactly in control. By way of emphasising the latter point Boro began the second period in dominant mode, leaving Gray and company struggling to touch the ball let alone string passes together.

It took a counter-attack to change the narrative. When Summerville collected Firpo’s pass he accelerated with menace and, having dropped a shoulder while manoeuvring the ball from his left to right foot, proceeded to direct a curling shot well out of Dieng’s reach. Latte Lath reduced the deficit with a fabulous finish to ensure a nail-biting finale but Leeds clung on.

2024-04-22T21:59:01Z dg43tfdfdgfd