Before I start my blog, I just want to say how sorry I am after hearing one of our supporters died in the ground before the game kicked off today. Condolences to all their family and friends and what an awful start to the New Year.

With -4 showing on my weather station this morning, it was going to be a cold one but thankfully we didn’t have any snow. The sun was shining which although we were glad about, it did impact on seeing the game in the ground as it was too bright to see what was happening on the pitch. After a visit to both the Holbeck and the Peacock I got into the ground in plenty of time to meet up with friends. Thanks to those who bought the Billy Bremner badges today and confirm I will have some with me at Newcastle. If your name is on the list, please let me know if you will be going so, I can arrange for you to get the badge.

Team: Perri, Struijk (captain), Bijol, Bornauw, Justin, Gudmundsson, Aaronson, Calvert-Lewin, Okafor, Stach, Gruev.

Subs: Nmecha for Okafor (75), Tanaka for Gruev (80), Gnonto for Bornauw (80), Piroe for Aaronson (87).

Subs not used: Darlow, Byram, Harrison, Longstaff, Chambers.

Leeds drew the game 1-1 with Aaronson scoring for Leeds (62).

Attendance: 36,909 with approx. 3,000-man u fans.

Referee: Jarred Gillett.

Booked: None from Leeds.

With Ampadu out for this one due to his booking received at Liverpool, it meant more changes to the team. It’s the first time we have changed ends at kick off for a long time too, so it meant we were attacking the Kop in the first half. As they attacked and hit a long ball, I didn’t even realise the ball had gone into the net, but the flag had already gone up for offside. We were unlucky not to take the lead after Calvert-Lewin’s header hit the far post with their keeper beaten after Struijk had passed the ball back for Stach to get a great cross in. Perri made a great save from a corner although Bornauw went down under pressure holding his head. I’ve tried looking at replays but couldn’t work out who fouled him. It was good to see that young Joshua Pick who died recently got his round of applause on 21 minutes.

The second half saw a long throw from Gudmundsson, cleared to him at the edge of the box. He hit a low shot that was pushed around the post by their keeper giving us a corner. Struijk hit a hopeful ball forward and Aaronson started chasing their player before getting the better of him and then stuck the ball into the net to give us the lead as Elland Road erupted. At that time, I felt the game was ours only for us to succumb to a sucker punch three minutes later. Perri came out of the goal and stopped as he had no chance of reaching their player who was slightly in front of Bornauw, so they were able to roll the ball into the net to equalise. If Perri would have stayed on his line, there was a chance they wouldn’t have scored. There was an identical move at Liverpool where I knew there was no chance of him reaching the ball, but they didn’t score. I was more disappointed that we couldn’t keep the lead for more than a few minutes as we gave them a lifeline. Okafor made a great bicycle kick in the penalty area as their keeper stretched and made a great save to stop us getting a second goal. They had a couple of decent chances with one shot hitting the outside of the post before Piroe’s shot went just over the crossbar. 

The game ended in the 1-1 draw and in reality, it was a fair result, and we got a good point, but I was disappointed that we hadn’t won and felt quite flat at the end. My opinion changed on hearing that a fan had died which puts things into perspective.

See you at Newcastle, LUFC – Marching on Together!