YEP Jury: Leeds United overcome ‘mad’ 10 minutes to clinch a third straight victory

DAVID WATKINS

Job done! Five of the bottom eight in the table now played… five beaten. We face the remaining three in the next 14 days, starting with Reading tomorrow.

On paper, Luton looked the easiest of the lot but, true to the Championship way of things, they proved a tough nut to crack, although their keeper, James Shea, with a string of good saves, and our forward line with more tepid shooting were the main reasons.

When Patrick Bamford struck in the 51st minute most Leeds fans, like me, probably thought the floodgates would open but, within three minutes, Izzy Brown reminded us what might have been with a superb run and cross that again highlighted our fallibility in the air. It was then a struggle to break down a Luton side buoyed with renewed hope.

In previous seasons Leeds would probably have succumbed to a sucker punch but these days we are made of sterner stuff and the late winner was enough to maintain our belief that, this season, anything is possible!

Man of the match: Patrick Bamford.

MATTHEW EVANS

United were pin sharp in the first half at Kenilworth Road and the returning Pablo Hernandez was the catalyst for a much-improved away performance. How the game was goalless at half-time, I really couldn’t tell you.

The second half was slightly more tricky and a mad 10 minutes saw us go ahead before nearly going behind but for a goal ruled out for offside. Our dominance continued until we were finally rewarded with a late winner of the kind that away fans spend their days dreaming of.

All three points was nothing less than we deserved with exceptional performances right across the pitch. Mateusz Klich, Stuart Dallas and Patrick Bamford are all worthy of praise while Ben White continues to look the business (and then some).

I’m saving my man of the match nomination for Pablo the magician.

In the week he signed a contract extension it was great to see him return from injury with a smile on his face and plenty to offer on the field.

We’ve got winnable games coming up before Christmas and all feels relatively rosy as we head to Reading on Tuesday.

Man of the match: Pablo Hernandez.

ANDY RHODES

Another game and another win. Leeds United are finding form just at the right time as the busy winter period approaches.

For the most part, United were largely untroubled at Kenilworth Road. Besides the spell when Luton equalised, the Whites had control on what looked like a difficult surface.

Patrick Bamford is starting to show his quality in front of goal again. While he produced a sublime finish for the first, he did enough to force Matt Pearson into a mistake for the second, ultimately winning the three points.

The return of Pablo Hernandez to the starting line-up helped Leeds break down a compact Luton side. The game plan looked to be to sit deep and break through the likes of Izzy Brown, but he couldn’t save the Hatters who are now winless in five.

Now that goals are being added to the side’s sold defence, we could be set for the difficult winter period.

With six more points on offer this week, we’ve set ourselves up with the perfect start.

Man of the match: Patrick Bamford.

KEITH INGHAM

Leeds continued their unbeaten run with a last-minute winner at Kenilworth Road.

Patrick Bamford had an excellent chance to score early on but his effort came back off a post and James Shea in the Luton goal made some great saves to keep the ‘light blues’ at bay.

Bamford though had the last laugh getting the opener after the half-time break.

Luton did equalise five minutes later and played well but Leeds stole the points with their late goal.

It’s pretty difficult to say who got the final touch to Mateusz Klich’s superb ball into the box as the 90th-minute struck.

Suffice to say Bamford wheeled away arms up in celebration whilst Luton looked to the ground in disbelief at their misfortune at conceding right at the death.

Leeds head down south again on Tuesday to face Reading in another game that they will be favourites in, but the Royals have shown recently that they are a decent team, especially at home.

They will be keen to get back to winning ways after their 1-0 defeat at Brentford yesterday.

Man of the match: Patrick Bamford.

MIKE GILL

Luton, the most depressing of towns, was rendered even more so by the leaden skies and persistent drizzle.

Nevertheless, United started brightly and both Tyler Roberts and Patrick Bamford came close. For Luton, Izzy Brown caught the eye. He really does look like a class act and Luton are lucky to have him in their side.

The other Town man who stood out was goalkeeper James Shea who was having the game of his life as keepers do when they face Leeds.

Early in the second half, Kalvin Phillips dispossessed Brown in his usual tigerish fashion. While Brown and co were calling foul, the Yorkshire Pirlot slipped the ball to Ben White who sent Bamford away to make a cool finish. Klich came close before James Collins powered home a header to level the scores.

Apart from a brief period after this event when the Town fans forgot themselves and made a bit of noise, Leeds took control. Mateusz Klich shot a killer assist which Matt Pearson and Bamford scrambled for, but the ball was heading for the net. A hard-fought win.

Man of the match: Ben White.

SHAUN SMITH

I have always liked Patrick Bamford. When a summer or so ago it was obvious he was available, I pushed as many buttons as I could to make folk aware.

Victor Orta of course knew him already and for the asking price, I saw that we would be getting a striker who could make a step up.

I have watched many who could obviously not. Doukara comes to mind, Antenucci and Grot but Leeds are dealing with a different kind of player these days.

Bamford is a class act who hasn’t quite proven it yet. Gjanni Alioski is one who has improved. Liam Cooper another and Stuart Dallas has dislodged all challengers to his first-team place.

Then you add a loan signing like Ben White. How on earth that lad is not keeping a side in the top ten of the Premier League is beyond me.

Jack Harrison was quiet yesterday but he usually is involved in our most telling attacks.

Helder Costa is bubbling under. Kalvin Phillips has gone from being few folk’s cup of tea to playing champagne football.

All have flaws. All have disregarded them and bought into a programme of improvement that is inspirational.

And then we have Pablo Hernandez. A man who was playing football in Qatar! A grafter with the brain of a world class player.

In short, Bielsa has created a squad of players who are capable of drawing admiring and appreciative applause from a crowd which is not short of passion.

Bamford is capable of the extraordinary.

We have some erstwhile ‘ordinary’ players aspiring to new levels. It’s why we have sport. It inspires.

Man of the match: Patrick Bamford.