Leeds United V Preston North End

Saturday 12th April 2025 - Elland Road

2024/25 Season

With the sun blaring down, it was another glorious day as we headed to Elland Road for the lunchtime kick off. After a visit to the Holbeck Club, The Peacock and Billy’s statue, we queued at the turnstiles. After all the furore about the turnstiles not working correctly and fans being denied the chance to renew their season tickets, it looked like there were issues again with one. Fans were scanning their tickets and then having to come out of the queue, so I ensured I went to the adjacent one to get through. Luckily all was fine for myself and my granddaughter to get into the ground. I’d been asked a few times before the game about what the score would be today. I didn’t dare to say anything, one because I always get it wrong and two, I didn’t want to jinx the outcome so said I would see what transpired on the pitch.

A big well done to everyone involved at the Chris and Kev remembrance dinner last week, as they raised £90,000 for Candlelighters, who support families facing children’s cancer in Yorkshire. An emotional night and well done to Charlie for getting his story about the night Chris and Kev were murdered out there. The article in the Telegraph was harrowing to read. Anyone who believed the lies told by the media about our fans that night, should read it and understand what really happened.

My sister Erica was the lucky winner of two tickets for the game today courtesy of Cadburys. It was also lovely seeing the sea of yellow, white and blue shirts amongst the crowd in and out of the ground. I also bumped into the lads from Utrecht who had woken their friend up to bring him to Elland Road for his stag do.

Team: Darlow, Ampadu, Rodon, Bogle, Firpo, Gnonto, Piroe, Solomon, Gruev, Tanaka, Aaronson.

Subs: Bamford for Aaronson (80), Schmidt for Gnonto (80), Byram for Solomon (95).

Subs not used: Meslier, Guilavogui, Joseph, Ramazani, Debayo, Wöber.

Leeds won the game 2-1 with Solomon (4) and Bogle (13) scoring the goals which put Leeds back to the top of the table.

Attendance: 35,747 with approximately 1,500 Preston fans.

Referee: John Busby.

Booked:  Darlow, Gruev.

Once again Leeds got off to a tremendous start with an early goal. Solomon got into a great position as I shouted, shoot. The words had hardly left my lips, as he unleashed a shot from the edge of the box that hit the top corner of the net in front of the South Stand as Elland Road erupted. Our celebrations were cut short as within two minutes Preston equalised with a similar long range shot from the edge of the box which beat Darlow. Although that was disappointing, Leeds continued to show that the best form of defence is attack as they continued to bombard the far goal. Before we knew it, we’d taken the lead again after a fantastic cross from Solomon on the left was met by Bogle in the middle of the goal, to put the ball into the net as Elland Road erupted once more. It took me a few minutes to realise that Piroe had a new hairstyle because it made him look taller and I’d wondered who it was. He was very involved in attacking the far goal and saw his attempt go narrowly pass the post, plus Gnonto saw a good shot saved by their keeper. Despite Piroe coming close again the score stayed the same as we went into the break.

As we came out for the second half, Leeds had to be on their toes when Darlow made a great save from their shot from a corner. Piroe then saw his shot go wide after Aaronson sent him on his way past the defence. Solomon sent a great cross into the box and Piroe was unlucky once again as his shot came off the cross bar and away. Another attack and this time Aaronson crossed for Gnonto only to see the shot go over the top of the goal. We were very lucky not to be punished when Darlow punched the ball away from the goal. I hadn’t realised at the time that he was far out of his area and was booked for it. As someone said to me after the game, he thought it was lucky that Darlow wasn’t sent off. Their free kick was taken and luckily, we managed to clear it. As news filtered through that Plymouth had taken the lead against Sheffield United, the noise around Elland Road reached fever pitch. It carried on like this until the final whistle as Leeds emerged winners with another precious three points taking us back to the top.

That’s the best atmosphere we’ve had at Elland Road for a long time, and I loved it. I was so happy at the end of the game then I became emotional and cried. I wasn’t the only one to do this and it shows how much it means to us all. I thought Piroe played well today so he needs to keep his new hairstyle. I also thought the referee kept the game flowing and although he played on when Bamford was rugby tackled and thrown to the floor, overall, he dealt with the game well.

Well, I honestly don’t know how people are lucky buying tickets for home games because since the system changed, I haven’t managed to get extra tickets for my family once. I was 10,000 and 9,000 in the queue for Stoke tickets so I didn’t stand a chance and gave up. With the old site I was successful many times, so I am just thankful that I have a home and away season ticket otherwise I’d never get to a game!

With four games to go, it still isn’t over, but we are in a good position but need to keep this automatic promotion place. We travel to Oxford on Friday before being back at Elland Road on Easter Monday.



Keep fighting Leeds and see you all there. LUFC – Marching on Together!