Leeds United 2 Bristol City 2: Hernandez and '˜the Elland Road faithful' turn the tide - YEP jury

AFTER watching their side slump to a two-goal deficit, Leeds United fans then witnessed a dramatic turnaround in the second half, so much so that many left Elland Road feeling that Bristol City should have been making the long journey south-west with their tails between their legs.
Leeds United's midfield magician, Pabol Hernandez. PIC: James HardistyLeeds United's midfield magician, Pabol Hernandez. PIC: James Hardisty
Leeds United's midfield magician, Pabol Hernandez. PIC: James Hardisty

Here’s what the Yorkshire Evening Post’s fans’ jury had to say:

Matthew Evans

For the first ten minutes of yesterday’s game we actually looked like we were finally taking a game to the opposition from the kick-off.

Leeds United goalscorers, Kemar Roofe and Pierre-Michel Lasogga. PIC: James HardistyLeeds United goalscorers, Kemar Roofe and Pierre-Michel Lasogga. PIC: James Hardisty
Leeds United goalscorers, Kemar Roofe and Pierre-Michel Lasogga. PIC: James Hardisty
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Bristol City’s first goal was all of United’s own making and any impetus, confidence or intent just drained away. We were totally disheartened and it looked like, if we could keep Bristol out for the second 45, then we would lose 2-0 and that would be that.

What happened instead was that the Elland Road crowd hauled the United players back into the game and we finally showed what we could do.

Two incredibly close chances in the dying seconds meant that we left the ground feeling like we could have taken all three points. There’s definitely something to build on for Wednesday night with Saiz, Berardi and Cooper back in contention and Pierre Michel Lasogga beginning to look like the player we thought we’d bought. As for yesterday, Pablo Hernandez takes the man on the match after another impressive showing and both assists.

Man of the match: Pablo Hernandez.

Leeds United goalscorers, Kemar Roofe and Pierre-Michel Lasogga. PIC: James HardistyLeeds United goalscorers, Kemar Roofe and Pierre-Michel Lasogga. PIC: James Hardisty
Leeds United goalscorers, Kemar Roofe and Pierre-Michel Lasogga. PIC: James Hardisty

David Watkins

Leeds United never cease to surprise us.

In the first half against Bristol City we were poor despite the arrival of a new head coach and some key changes to personnel on the pitch. We’d capitulated to two more early goals and it could have been more. The second half began in pretty much the same manner too but then something strange occurred in LS11.

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Sections of the home crowd had clearly given up on the team and were sarcastically jeering anything vaguely positive – a successful pass, a clean catch by the keeper and the like – but then the rest of the crowd drowned that out with a defiant chant of “WACCOE” which spread around the whole ground and everything changed.

Seemingly buoyed by the new found support, Leeds finally found their form and seemed to lose the fear that had gripped them earlier. They started to dominate the game and with ten minutes still left we’d levelled the score and looked odds on to get what would have been a priceless winner.

Sadly it didn’t come although Lasogga was only inches away from glory with the final strike of the game as his header struck the bar.

If ever there was an example of the power of the support from the stands, this was it.

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We can only hope this is some sort of a turning point and that we can begin to attack games from the first minute from here on in.

There is no finer sight or sound than an Elland Road crowd roaring on a committed team on the pitch.

Man of the match: Pablo Hernandez.

Mike Gill

After a lively start with Stuart Dallas coming close, Leeds United went down to a goal from Diedhiou after goalkeeper Felix Wiedwald failed to get anywhere near a long throw from Magnusson.

Five minutes later Bobby Reid added a second from another long throw after being set up by Flint. It was a punch drunk, demoralised and depressed side that slunk off at half-time to a chorus of boos.

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The second half brought more effort from the Whites and instead of the boos and ironic cheers when Wiedwald managed to catch the ball, the fans got behind their team.

The reward came on 72 minutes when Pierre-Michel Lasogga converted a pinpoint cross from Hernandez at the far post. Eight minutes later, substitute Kemar Roofe sent Elland Road wild with the equaliser from a Pablo Hernandez corner.

Adam Forshaw and Kalvin Phillips went close in the latter stages, and Lasogga hit the bar with a header in the last act of the game.

Bring on Derby County on Wednesday.

Man of the match: Pablo Hernandez.

Keith Ingham

Once again Leeds made me eat my words after coming back from 2-0 down to stage a remarkable second-half comeback to draw 2-2 and so nearly pinch it in injury time.

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The first half was so disappointing after a bright start by Leeds, Stuart Dallas was denied early on by Frank Fielding. But if you can’t defend set pieces, long throws particularly undid a hesitant defence, with Felix Wiedwald having a ‘mare’. Two goals in the first 15 minutes gave Bristol City what looked like a winning lead, Ryan Kent nearly made it three but Wiedwald blocked his goal-bound effort.

The ironic cheers of the Leeds fans whenever the defence and goalkeeper managed to clear their lines was clear evidence of the thoughts of the fans. The boos that greeted the half-time whistle might not be nice to hear but the lacklustre display from Leeds deserved it.

The second half couldn’t be more different than the first, Leeds came out determined to get back into a game that looked lost, Pablo Hernandez and Caleb Ekuban had chances before Paul Heckingbottom brought on Hadi Sacko and Kemar Roofe for Dallas and Ekuban just around the hour mark. The fightback started with under 20 minutes left, Sacko played the ball back to Hernandez who found Pierre-Michel Lasogga at the back post, Leeds were back in the game.

Unbelievably Leeds were level nine minutes later, Hernandez again the architect, his corner was flicked on by a Bristol City’s defender’s head and Roofe was at the back post to bury the equaliser. Ten minutes to play and Leeds pushed forward trying to get a unlikely winner, the supporters played their part by rousing renditions of ‘Marching on Together’ and applauding every Leeds positive pass. In the dying moments of the game, Leeds so nearly got the winner. First, Kalvin Phillips headed over then with time almost up, Laurens De Bock back-heeled a pass to Hernandez who sent over a ball that Lasogga that crashed against the bar. It was so unlucky for Leeds and the German.

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If Leeds could play like they did in the second half for 90 minutes, or at least when they were not behind in games they would get the win that is proving so hard to get in 2018.

Credit to the players for coming back, when all looked lost.

Man of the match: Pierre-Michel Lasogga. A poacher’s goal and never stopped running. Fans also deserve credit for not giving up on the team.