Phil Hay's verdict: Leeds United look demoralised and devoid of all enthusiasm

There was rain in Norwich but not enough to wash out Wes Hoolahan's parade.
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A meaningless league game had the spirit of a testimonial and Leeds United stuck with traditional etiquette: too soft, too polite or too indifferent to disregard the pleasantries and ruin Hoolahan’s day. It finished 2-1 to The Canaries.

Leeds have seen enough of Hoolahan over the years to hold Norwich City’s aging playmaker in high regard but they were unduly accommodating of his farewell at Carrow Road, beaten with a whimper in a match which had nothing riding on it and made no secret of the fact.

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“I didn’t enjoy it,” Paul Heckingbottom admitted. “There was no fire in the game.”

Leeds United's Kemar Roofe glances a late chance wide against hosts Norwich. PIC: Tony JohnsonLeeds United's Kemar Roofe glances a late chance wide against hosts Norwich. PIC: Tony Johnson
Leeds United's Kemar Roofe glances a late chance wide against hosts Norwich. PIC: Tony Johnson

There was no fire in his team either. The fight for 12th place, which Saturday essentially was, inspired only apathy.

It was bound to be so and Heckingbottom is clutching at straws by trying to eke intensity from a squad whose season is limping home. Norwich, after a year of insignificant graft under Daniel Farke, might have shown the same levels of interest had the last home appearance of Hoolahan’s 10-year career in Norfolk not given Carrow Road a sense of occasion. There was, at least, a sense of fun in Norwich’s football, a sliver of enjoyment in spite of the Championship table. Leeds, by comparison, cut a demoralised group, devoid of enthusiasm.

Farke spoke afterwards about the significance of a result which in general terms barely mattered.

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“It was important to win our last home game,” the German insisted. “It sets the tone for next season.”

Leeds United's Pontus Jansson loses his cool with referee John Brooks. PIC: Tony JohnsonLeeds United's Pontus Jansson loses his cool with referee John Brooks. PIC: Tony Johnson
Leeds United's Pontus Jansson loses his cool with referee John Brooks. PIC: Tony Johnson

Leeds would like to set a tone of their own but even Heckingbottom is not sure how much he has gained from his 15 games as the club’s head coach. So little of their football is indicative of better things to come. Their last trip of the season left them without an away win since Boxing Day. Saturday’s loss gave Heckingbottom no positive insight into his players and gave those looking no positive insight into Heckingbottom, let alone any assurance that he has this job in hand.

The game, as he said later, was there to be won after Kalvin Phillips perked up a dire first half with a lovely volley from the edge of the box, wrapping his right foot around a mis-hit shot from Ronaldo Vieira. Leeds were six minutes from half-time and in control but in the last minute of the half a corner went wrong, Vieira lost the possession to Hoolahan and the Republic of Ireland international beat Bailey Peacock-Farrell with a shot which deflected off Pontus Jansson, striking the inside of both posts before dropping over the line. It was Hoolahan’s first league goal of the season and, on the basis of the finish itself, evidently his day.

“We get in front and with better game management in the final two minutes of the first half there’s no danger,” Heckingbottom said. “I felt that if they were going to get back into the game it would take something like that. People have to be brave and get on the ball and I’m not going to have a go but do we really need to play there at that moment? We were on top. It’s the game management part that upsets me.

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“But the biggest thing I’m disappointed with, which we haven’t been able to change, is the fire I spoke about. There are too many loose balls, 50-50s, not won. I know when we look at the physical stats the boys will have run. But when we look at the challenges and duels, we won’t be coming out on top. That’s a mentality thing. That’s what we have to change.

Kalvin Phillips swivels and fires Leeds in front at Carrow Road. PIC: Tony JohnsonKalvin Phillips swivels and fires Leeds in front at Carrow Road. PIC: Tony Johnson
Kalvin Phillips swivels and fires Leeds in front at Carrow Road. PIC: Tony Johnson

“We want to be winners and not just play well when things are going well. We have to win games the hard way and the ugly way, and swing the momentum in games. That’s disappointing thing and that’s the biggest frustration for me.”

It is as close as Heckingbottom has come to voicing outright criticism of his players and it might be that 15 matches as head coach – in the midst of poor form, dropping heads and various PR disasters – are taking their toll.

Heckingbottom looked jaded at full-time and it cannot be in his interests to be embarking on a two-match tour of Myanmar in the week after this season ends. Away from the political ramifications of the trip, which Leeds announced to much opposition last week, there is little in it for him or his team.

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Saturday’s defeat was their 20th in the Championship and much as sympathy is in short supply, Leeds as a squad are shot. There is, in football parlance, no winning mentality left. The second half of the season has ground that attribute to dust.

Leeds United's Kemar Roofe glances a late chance wide against hosts Norwich. PIC: Tony JohnsonLeeds United's Kemar Roofe glances a late chance wide against hosts Norwich. PIC: Tony Johnson
Leeds United's Kemar Roofe glances a late chance wide against hosts Norwich. PIC: Tony Johnson

There were chances in a second half which did more than go through the motions – Samuel Saiz volleying over from the edge of the box, Phillips curling an effort tamely into Angus Gunn’s gloves and Kemar Roofe failing to toe-poke a Pablo Hernandez cross into the net – but Norwich’s impetus began to build.

James Maddison, an ample successor to Hoolahan though one who is unlikely to be at Carrow Road for so long, found his range gradually and drew an excellent save from Bailey Peacock-Farrell with a fierce shot in the 56th minute. Thirteen minutes later, Hoolahan stabbed a pass in from the right wing and Josh Murphy, with no pressure on him, decided to have a go, smashing the ball off the underside of Peacock-Farrell’s body and into the net. The game was done and Hoolahan had his send-off. His substitution in the 84th minute fell well short of John Terry’s indulgent farewell at Chelsea but still had a carnival feel.

“We spoke about guarding against it being an end-of-season game or a testimonial,” Heckingbottom said. “But It felt like that.”

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The last 20 minutes followed a familiar pattern: Jay-Roy Grot on for Gjanni Alioski, to audible groans from the away end; Pierre-Michel Lasogga appearing for the last seven minutes and touching the ball once. Passengers or statues, whichever cap fits best, and Leeds cannot carry them next season. In front of Heckingbottom is flotsam, drifting down the river.

“This is a hell of a league and things ebb and flow through the season,” he said. “Even the teams up the top have tough moments but character and drive gets you through those moments.

“That’s what we’ve not had. I know we can look a good side but to win more games you have to have more than that.

Leeds United's Pontus Jansson loses his cool with referee John Brooks. PIC: Tony JohnsonLeeds United's Pontus Jansson loses his cool with referee John Brooks. PIC: Tony Johnson
Leeds United's Pontus Jansson loses his cool with referee John Brooks. PIC: Tony Johnson

“What this has made me is certain about what needs to happen and what needs to change.

“I can sit down with anyone and argue my point because I know I’m right. Sometimes it’s nice to be that certain. But the hard work is making it happen.”