Prior to their win by a single goal late in their home match to Blackburn Rovers on a Tuesday night nine days ago, they were at the foot of the Championship table having not won a game.
Luckily for them they were playing winless Blackburn Rovers, who were sitting rock bottom in the table as they came face to face.
On the night Leeds United were grateful to Kyle Bartley, who scored his first goal for Leeds and in the process handed them their first win at home since the middle of April!
They had taken the lead through a player Town were interested in, New Zealander Chris Wood on 65 minutes, only for Marvin Emnes to level things up before that late strike from Bartley four minutes from time to give the home side a rather fortuitous victory.
From that moment on the tide began to turn. Manager Garry Monk who had suffered a horrendous start to his career with the club said after the win,’ We’ve had a frustrating few games here at Elland Road where we’ve been disappointed. The character tonight was excellent, that’s what stood out for me and the character shone through, that sheer will to win. It was right there to the very end and it is just what the doctor ordered.’
All teams need a change of fortune to progress and there is no doubt in my mind that Garry Monk has enormous managerial potential and was poorly treated at Swansea in my view.
This seemingly unlikely home victory has got the Leeds fans back onside and just in the nick of time!
Four days later they won away at Cardiff 0-2 and once again it was Chris Wood who got the ball rolling with a penalty, after Cardiff had twice smacked the post.
Their luck had changed and continues to, with another win recorded in midweek against Blackburn but this time in the EFL Cup – which puts them in the fourth round of the competition and a home game against our fiercest Norwich City!
So then, we face another team with their tails up and this to me seems to be a re-occuring theme. Town never seem to face opposition that have seen their form dip or is it just my imagination I wonder?
Anyway the good news is that our injured players appear to be on the mend and Luke Hyam does not need an operation and the one that Tommy Smith had on his back went very well apparently.
Teddy Bishop broke his nose against Aston Villa but it may not stop him being involved at some stage on Saturday – although Luke Varney is said to be doubtful,having pulled up in the under 23 win against Saturday’s opponents Leeds United.
Frank Weston – Editor of Vital Ipswich
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