As previewed yesterday, this was a thoroughly enjoyable game of football. The match started off at a frantic pace although initially lacking in quality. The match was very aggressive from both teams without crossing the line - Harrison Reed and Tyler Roberts in particular getting stuck into anybody who dared go near them. Roberts seemed to be everywhere.
When the 1st bit of quality came, Leeds scored. Tyler Roberts playing a deep cross which found Ayling in acres of space, heading beautifully over Areola. In real time, it looked a wonderful goal with Alying's trademark goal celebration (letting his hair down) filled with exhuberance. Cue VAR. In making his forward run, Roberts was leaning forwards, the lines came out and he was offside. The lord giveth. VAR taketh away. Poor Ayling, letting his hair down for nothing.
The quality from Leeds improved significantly at that point. Leeds scored again when Dallas took the ball on with Bamford struggling and played it through to Raphina who slotted it into the corner nicely. This one didn't need to go to VAR, Raphina was miles offside. Fulham's impressive defence was holding on but for how long?
Fulham struggled to get going. Their possession football impressively stifled by Leeds' intensity and energy but despite that, Fulham nearly took the lead with a Maja shot that Meslier somehow saved - it looked a certain goal, the spin of the ball from the save giving Ayling just enough time to clear.
Just a couple of minutes later though, Leeds got the lead they deserved. From a throw in, Jack Harrison got the ball and quickly played it into the middle with his first touch, Bamford moving and reacting fastest for a fine finish, Areola had no chance. The goal was coming and marked Bamford's 4th goal in 6 matches against the Cottagers. Ominous for Fulham having taken 1 point from the 13 games they've conceded first.
But Leeds' weakness from set pieces struck again. An Ademola Lookman corner volleyed in by the defender I've been raving about, Joachim Andersen, to make it 1-1. Harsh on leeds but the tides had turned, Fulham almost taking the lead shortly after with Struijk pissing about in defence, seeing Lemina eventually forcing a save out of Meslier. Fulham had finally found their game and continued to apply pressure with a series of corners.
Game on!
Unfortunatley, half time came and I had to wait patiently for 15 minutes for it to restart (so I wrote most of this).
The pace in the 2nd half continued to be relentless, tackles kept coming in and some good chances came and went for Harrison and Lookman. Then Leeds hit Fulham on the counter to put them ahead again - Bamford turned Andersen too easily, slotted in Raphina who poked it home. Raphina had been relatively quiet until that point, but his contribution proved to be decisive.
You wondered how long the lead would last in what had turned into an evenly matched game - Every time Fulham got a free kick or corner, you feared for Leeds with Leeds' best chances coming when hitting Fulham on the counter. At this point though, I was getting very tired and it looked like the players were too, I started thinking about going to bed and lost concentration. Luckily, most of the good stuff happened whilst I was concentrating and not much else happened - Alioski nearly scored but Areola saved it and it was still entertaining but not enough to talk about that differed from what's already been said.
This defeat will hurt Fulham and has dented my optimism that they could stay up. To be in the relegation zone having played 2 games more and only 8 games left, time is quickly running out and makes today's game between Brighton and Newcastle decisive if either team can snatch a win.
Leeds impressed again and are comfortably mid-table. I noticed the Leeds players getting tired earlier than I have done previously which could be something to look out for in their remaining matches.
👇 Match Highlights from SkySports
(Open the image in a new window to view)
