YEP Jury - Leeds United make mockery of our pessimistic predictions with win at Leicester City

Not one jury member had Leeds United winning at Leicester City ahead of the game.

The result and, just as notably, the performance were unexpected - and all-the-more celebratory for it.

Let’s join in the celebrations:

ANDY RHODES

Another win on the road and another performance that’s got the pundits dishing out the praise.

Although Leicester haven’t got the best home record, they’re pushing for the title and this win is no mean feat.

In fact, it was a win that showed both sides of United’s game. While again showcasing their attacking flair, Leeds underlined their commitment to defending and minimising the risk to Illan Meslier’s goal.

The performance also showed both sides of Patrick Bamford’s game.

We all know about his goalscoring ability, but this game showed his ability to hold the ball up, pick a pass and, crucially, his selflessness. With him, Leeds probably wouldn’t have won the game and, even though he hadn’t scored in his previous four games, this shows that there’s always value in having him on the pitch.

Across the board, this was a top team performance and this win has proven that Leeds United can mix it with the best the Premier League has got to through at them.

Man of the match: Patrick Bamford.

MIKE GILL

When Harvey Barnes put the Foxes ahead after 13 minutes there was a feeling of ‘Here we go again’.

Thankfully, the Whites were having none of it!

Leicester were caught on the counter with Patrick Bamford racing onto a great pass from Raphinha and, in turn, putting a perfect through ball to Stuart Dallas who made a good job of dispatching it past Schmeichel.

Leicester picked up their game in the second half but, thankfully, this was withstood and Patrick Bamford put Leeds ahead on 70 minutes.

Raphinha’s pass was a quality one but the big striker still had a bit of work to do before drawing back his trusty left foot and lashing the ball into the top left-hand corner. The next goal - the game-killing third - was ‘Bielsaball’ at its finest.

The impossible-looking breakaway when most teams would be happy to hoof it into touch, Dallas doing a pas de deux that Darcey Bussell would have been proud of and Bamford racing away before unselfishly passing the ball to Harrison for the tap in.

Man of the match: Patrick Bamford.

KEITH INGHAM

Well I didn’t expect that! A fantastic 3-1 win at Leicester City and it was a superb display from Marcelo’s boys at the King Power Stadium.

The match was only 13 minutes old when Barnes put the home side ahead from inside the penalty area. Many would have thought ‘Here we go again’ but, to their credit, the Leeds players went straight back at Leciester and, within minutes, were level. A great build-up ended with Patrick Bamford passing to Stuart Dallas who finished superbly. Raphinha nearly made it 2-1 at the break.

The second half belonged to Leeds with Bamford getting the all-important second goal with a shot that three goalkeeper’s may have struggled to keep out. It was an impressive finish from United’s top scorer. Leicester had a chance to equalise but Evans blazed wide when a ball found him unmarked at the far post.

Leeds made certain of the win with six minutes left. Dallas found Bamford, the striker took the ball into the area and unselfishly passed the ball to Jack Harrison for a simple third goal.

With Deigo Llorente sidelined, Pascal Struijk came in as Marcelo Bielsa stuck by the other 10 players who got an important three points in midweek - Mateusz Klich once again on the bench with young Charlie Creswell brought in to replace Llorente in the matchday squad.

And it resulted in back-to-back wins - six points - which is more than this Leeds supporter expected from away trips to Newcastle and Leciester.

All the lads deserve a day off for their superb display but I doubt that Marcelo will give them one with Everton due at Elland Road on Wednesday night.

A fantastic win.

Man of the match: Pascal Struijk at the back and Patrick Bamford up front with two assists and a fantastic goal.

MATTHEW EVANS

What a brilliant result. For most of us, it doesn’t register like a win at Stamford Bridge or Old Trafford because Leicester are perrennial relegation fodder playing well above their station but the league table shows how impressive this win was.

United have shown twice in the same week that they can put the hard yards in to grind out an away win and this was several steps up from St James’ Park midweek.

I’m so disappointed that we couldn’t be there to see these famous wins as this brilliant squad gets us firmly anchored back in the Premier League.

There were superb performances across the park from Stuart Dallas, Liam Cooper, Luke Ayling, Gjanni Alioski and Raphinha and, let’s be honest, everyone else too.

I was amazed, however, that Patrick Bamford chose a square ball to Jack Harrison for the third goal of the game; I’d have put money on him taking the shot himself.

But this attitude summed up his man-of-the-match performance and a great afternoon for the Whites.

Man of the match: Patrick Bamford.

DAVID WATKINS

Leeds United: making a mockery of predictions since Adam was a lad!

On the back of under-par performances and up against one of the best in the division, not one YEP juror had this one down as a Leeds win! Logic suggested Leicester would be that little bit too strong! It looked that way as the Foxes took the lead, easing through our back-line. But no one told Leeds they had no right to win and, with a goal every bit as clinical as Leicester’s, Stuart Dallas had us level within three minutes.

For the rest of the half, Leeds had several decent half-chances while Leicester, although often looking like they could cut through us again, didn’t fashion anywhere near as many. After the break, Leicester reshuffled to their advantage but who knew ‘Harry Hotshot’, Patrick Bamford, would be in the frame? A superb strike into the top corner then latching onto a through ball by Matty Klich to set up Jack Harrison, and the game was won! Tremendous result and performance!

Man of the match: Patrick Bamford.

JACOB STARR

A game which revolved around two strikers. A Vardy-less Leicester and an in-form Patrick Bamford.

And what a performance from all of our boys.

Harvey Barnes’ goal after 13 minutes looked to have the Foxes well on their way to three points in their title pursuit.

But hope was restored for the Whites in the blink of an eye when the ‘Cookstown Cafu’, Stuart Dallas, levelled up matters.

Marcelo Bielsa’s men proceeded to dominate the remainder of the first half, combined with the creation of some great chances that were saved, it has to be said, superbly by former Leeds stopper Kasper Schmeichel, from Bamford and Raphinha in particular.

The hosts, undoubtedly, came out with a little more intent after the half-time break.

But it was Bamford’s sublime strike for the visitors and his unselfish square ball to ever-willing winger Jack Harrison which rewarded Leeds with their first victory over a top-six side this season.

The lack of a focal point for Brendan Rodgers’ side was certainly a factor in his teams’ unusual lack of efficiency in front of goal, but so was our defensive performance. Pascal Struijk, take a bow.

Fifteen points from the bottom three, five off the top six. Anyone else searching for their passport?

Man of the match: Pascal Struijk.

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