Leeds United v Oxford

Saturday  21st December 2024 - Elland Road, Leeds

2024/25 Season

It’s been a very busy week for me as I’ve just returned from a short break to Berlin with my brother to go to the Christmas markets and meet up with cousins, I haven’t seen for many a year. It is also where my mum was born so it was also nostalgic going back to places that I’d been with her. I haven’t been back to Berlin at Christmas since I was 12 and this is something I have wanted to do for a long while. After my husband Phillip’s death in October, I decided that I have to make the most of things whilst I am able to do so as you never know what is around the corner. After seeing the horrendous attack on the Christmas market in Magdeburg on our return, it makes you realise how fragile life can be. Sadly, due to returning from Berlin, I was unable to make the funeral on Thursday of a long-time friend Gary Noble who I met when travelling on Wallace Arnold coaches to games in the 70s. I’m sure he was given a great send off by his family and friends.

I was aiming to set off early to the game today but with the horrendous weather conditions and lack of sleep, I changed my plans. Even then I had to change things as I’d brought a flask of hot chocolate with for my granddaughter only to hear a bang after I’d put the bag in the car. I’d left the door open, and I can only conclude that the wind pressure caused it to explode in the bag so I’d a right mess to clear up. Thank goodness it was inside a bag as I dread to think what a mess the inside of my car would have been. Because of this we just went to the Peacock, but it was good to catch up with friends I haven’t seen for a while.

It was a hold on to my beret as we headed into the ground (my other blue one took off with the wind in Berlin but luckily got retrieved) but the conditions would make playing football that bit harder. I did say that we needed to keep the ball on the ground today and someone else gave me a 3-0 prediction win to us. What I still cannot understand though is why on earth do we water pitches when the conditions are like they were today? I cannot get my head around it but maybe someone can enlighten me!

Team:  Meslier, Ampadu (back in as captain as Struijk on the bench due to injury), Bogle, Byram, James, Rothwell, Piroe, Aaronson, Solomon, Rodon, Tanaka.

Subs:  Joseph for Piroe (74), Ramazani for Aaronson (74), Gnonto for Solomon (74), Schmidt for Byram (77), Guilavogui for Rothwell (83).

Subs not used:  Darlow, Bamford, Struijk, Chambers.

Leeds won the game 4-0 with goals from James (9), Bogle (57), Aaronson (67), Solomon (73).

Attendance:  36,646, 1,962 Oxford fans.

Referee:  James Bell.

Booked:  None from Leeds.

The game got off to a dramatic start as I reached my seat when Leeds attacked the south stand. It looked like we’d scored but the ball hit the side netting from Tanaka. We didn’t have long to wait for a goal though when Solomon on the left sent a great ball into James at the back post to put the ball into the net. It was good to see the team had “listened” to my advice by keeping the ball down. Oxford immediately tried to get back into the game when they counterattacked at speed although their player looked offside and was only thwarted by Meslier standing tall as the ball sailed over the crossbar. Leeds came close after a short corner when James tried curling the ball into the net, but the keeper pushed the ball away, with a resulting shot going over the bar. With 15minutes of the half left the lack of sleep caught up with me as I could hardly keep my eyes open but was glad when the whistle went for the break.

The second half saw Leeds increase their lead after some great footwork between Bogle and Aaronson which saw Bogle put the ball into the net. Solomon picked up a thrown in from Oxford and put a pinpoint pass for Aaronson to score to put us three nil up. As Farke was looking to bring three subs on, Leeds attacked again, and we said Solomon would be going off. Before he did though he scored our fourth goal of the day after a great through ball from Piroe. The finish from Solomon meant there was no chance of their keeper getting hold of that ball. I can’t remember the last time we scored four goals in a game, but it was good to see. The weather deteriorated with rain and heavy winds playing havoc and causing many fans decide to leave the stands early. We were fine where we were but certainly felt the cold today.



Apologies that it has taken me a while to post my blog tonight as I kept falling asleep! I want to wish all my followers and Leeds fans everywhere, a very Merry Christmas and if you are going through challenging times, hope you can make the best of things. We will be having our traditional Christmas Eve gathering (the German way), following in my mum’s footsteps with our extended family, then I will be hosting Christmas dinner for the first time in our new home for nine of us. There will be tinges of sadness, but we are going to cling to the happy memories of our lost loved ones. See you at Stoke but just to let you know, the away fans are now situated in the right-hand corner and not behind the goal as we have been in the past. It also means we are not parked in the same car park but a short walk away according to a Stoke fan I know.

LUFC – Marching on Together!