Leeds United v Coventry City

Wednesday 5th February 2025 - The Coventry Building Society Arena

2024/25 Season

As we headed to our rearranged game at Coventry due to playing Millwall in the next round of the FA Cup on Saturday, I reflected on our 7-0 thrashing of Cardiff last week. It also took me back to being at Elland Road the last time we won 7-0 against Southampton in 1972 where I had the privilege to see the best Leeds United team ever under Don Revie and my hero Billy Bremner. That was also the first game my friend Sue and I changed from standing at the front of the Kop behind the goal, to go and stand at the back where all the singing took place. We also had to be in there by 1.00pm otherwise it was too packed to be able to get up there. Those were the days especially when I realise how many years have passed by since there. The one thing the Cardiff game gave me was hope, and regardless of there being lots of games to go until the end of the season, that’s not something I have had for a long time. Long may it continue. After continuing our run with another win tonight, I was buzzing when I got home.

Team: Meslier, Ampadu, Rodon, Bogle, Firpo, James, Aaronson, Solomon, Piroe, Tanaka, Gruev.

Subs: Ramazani for Solomon (78), Gnonto for James (86), Joseph for Piroe (86), Struijk for Aaronson (90), Guilavogui for Tanaka (90).

Subs not used:  Darlow, Byram, Wöber, Rothwell.

Leeds won the game 2-0 with Piroe (17) and Bogle (26) scoring our goals.

Attendance:   28,008, 3,000 Leeds fans.

Referee:  Dean Whitestone.

Booked:  Ampadu.

The game started off at a fast pace and 15 minutes had already passed when I looked at the clock. Leeds were using their pace along the wings as they attacked towards the Leeds fans. We got our breakthrough a couple of minutes later when Solomon sent a great through ball to Piroe who was able to send a great strike into the bottom corner of the net. As the Leeds fans celebrated, I saw first aiders going up to the left of us, then about five minutes later to the right of us. Suddenly the steward went along the row in front of us unfastening all the flags on show. As I wondered what was going on, lots of Leeds fans came down the stairs to the left of us and across the front to go up the stairs to the right of us. I was then told there was a medical emergency in our stand and someone had had a heart attack. I’ve no idea what the final outcome was but I am hoping that everything is okay for our fan and wish them a speedy recovery. I also heard someone had fallen when we scored.

In the meantime, the game had carried on and Leeds were coming towards us with great speed, taking the game to Coventry. Bogle picked the ball up in front of us and ran towards the goal, beating Coventry players before hitting the back of the net to put us two goals up. That was a brilliant start, we kept attacking and although we came close we went in to the break two goals up. As someone said, if our finishing had been better, we could have had more!

The second half saw Coventry make a change to the team and then started attacking us putting us under pressure. As Coventry looked to try and pull a goal back, it looked like they were going to until Meslier pulled out a fantastic save to push the ball away. That was a vital save because the fear from me was that if they got one goal, they’d get another. Solomon then saw his shot saved by their keeper. Leeds got back into the game with both Solomon and Piroe seeing shots saved by their keeper. Ramazani replaced Solomon and he had a shot saved by their keeper, before Meslier once again made an important save to stop them pulling a goal back. We thought we’d put the game to bed when between Firpo and Gnonto we put the ball into the net. As the team and fans were celebrating, suddenly the linesman put his flag up to deny us the third goal. That didn’t stop us winning the game thankfully so another three points and a clean sheet to keep us top of the league and send the fans home happy.

Lampard got plenty of stick and to be honest until someone mentioned it, I hadn’t realised he was Coventry’s manager. I’m glad we got one over him but regardless of him beating us in the play off second leg, Bielsa will still be a million times a better person than he’ll ever be!!! Stop crying Frank Lampard!

See you on Saturday, LUFC – Marching on Together!