Leeds United 4-0 Bristol City: The Leeds Way

Who knew it could be like this? When Leeds United fans imagine what promotion looks like, they picture agonising final days against Bournemouth and Bristol Rovers, or being sat alone at home during lockdown. TV scheduling meant this promotion has been robbed of the euphoria of a Lee Chapman or Jermaine Beckford winner, but while Sky TV can still get tae fuck, this might have been even better.

Or at least healthier. On the walk to the ground, the sun was shining, the skies were clear, and everyone I chatted to spoke about their delight at being able to go to Elland Road without feeling any stress or anxiety about the upcoming ninety minutes, a weight lifted off their shoulders and a spring in their step. The free scarves handed out gave everyone a memento they won’t associate with play-off heartache and bathed Beeston in a glow that reflected the warmth in the crowd. Leeds got the job done last Monday, and now it was time to kick back, relax, and have fun.

The only faint worry going into the game was whether Leeds had indulged in too much fun during the celebrations last week, especially now they were facing a Bristol City side fighting for the play-offs. No chance. Led by Ethan Ampadu, the players have been insisting they’re not done yet and want the title, and their performance suggested they want an even bigger party.

Put simply, Leeds were masterful. Bristol City hardly touched the ball. The Peacocks were at their “It’s Almost Cruel” Super Leeds best. It’s easy to say this was a result of being released from the shackles of pressure, but Leeds have been doing this all season: 3-0s against Coventry, Plymouth, Luton, and Sheffield Wednesday; 4-0s against Oxford, Watford, and now Bristol City; six past Stoke; seven past Cardiff. Except with the looming spectre of wondering whether it will be good enough now banished, everyone was able to delight in a piss-takingly dominant display that resembled a testimonial.

It was a night to appreciate the best of every player. Karl Darlow had nothing to do until being sullied into making a straightforward save in stoppage time, but even the way he let a cross drift harmlessly out of play in the first half got a big cheer and some applause from his captain Ampadu — and if Ampadu appreciated it then so did I. Darlow once described the promotion he won under Newcastle as one of the “toughest” moments of his career having been dropped for the run-in to the season. Now he’s the beneficiary of such a decision he must be wondering what all the fuss was about at St James’ Park: this is easy work.

The testimonial feel really kicked in when Ao Tanaka responded to his name being chanted by sticking the opener into the bottom corner after being found at the back post by Manor Solomon’s cross. When the players were introduced to the crowd one by one in the post-match celebrations, Tanaka was greeted to the pitch by one of the loudest cheers, capping a remarkable season in which the shy lad who last week was so reluctant to get his acclaim on the East Stand steps he had to be pushed to the front by his teammates has absolutely enchanted Elland Road.

Back to the game, and before long Pat Bamford was warming up in the North-West Corner giggling with Sam Byram as the Kop sang, ‘He sings what he wants,’ followed by something or other about that muppet from Sheffield Chris Wilder. Responding to chants of ‘Bamford, give us a song,’ Pat glanced over his shoulder to check the teacher wasn’t looking then conducted what has become Daniel Farke’s trademark three-cheer salute.

While Leeds only led 1-0 heading into half-time, the rare occasions Bristol City threatened to attack were quickly stopped by Ampadu and Joe Rodon, typically imperious in defence, and United were creating chances so regularly that for once the crowd was confident another was soon on the way. Cutting loose immediately after the break, Leeds nearly scored three times within the first sixty seconds of the second half, before Joel Piroe went full Pablo Hernandez and provided a late contender for Pass of the Season, turning on the ball near the halfway line and picking out Wilf Gnonto on the right to score a repeat of his goal at Ashton Gate last season.

From that point the subs began warming up with more vigour in front of me in the West Stand, constantly glancing over to the dugout waiting for their turn to join in the fun. Harry Gray twice sprinted back thinking he’d got the nod, only to return to his stretches with his head in his hands, laughing at his own enthusiasm and joining in with the Mateusz Klich chants. Instead, the honour was bestowed on Largie Ramazani, tapping in a cross that Junior Firpo made look far too easy with his first touch. Ramazani only added to the party atmosphere by backflipping and boogeying in front of the fans and adding a brilliant fourth in stoppage time by bringing down Ilia Gruev’s long pass into the air with an instinctive touch-and-thwack into the bottom corner.

On the day that images were released of what a ‘new’ Elland Road might look like, has the old stadium ever been so full of love? As the players danced around the pitch after drenching each other in champagne, nobody wanted to leave the ground and have to go home.

It isn’t meant to be like this. Leeds United are meant to do things the hard way. While that idea can sometimes feel like a convenient excuse, there’s still over a century’s worth of evidence to suggest it contains at least an element of trust. Take Jesse Marsch, who often spoke of his determination to disprove the theory and change the club’s perception of itself — yet after a year of telling his players to stop being so stressed, Marsch was asked how he was feeling, and replied: “It’s awful. It’s stressful beyond belief.”

On the other hand, after inheriting the post-relegation mess of Leeds United, Daniel Farke has regularly referenced the notion that maybe we really do have to do it the hard way and met it with nothing — a sleepless night in Shepherd’s Bush aside — but a calm, confident demeanour and plenty of coffee and cake. Farke has been too busy doing the job to worry about changing Leeds United’s identity, which is why while everyone was losing their minds after draws against Swansea and Luton, he doubled down on feeling “100% convinced” we were going to play in the Premier League.

And after a night when Farke received some of the loudest chants and cheers with Paraag Marathe in the ground to hear them, he was proved right all along. In accepting that Leeds are “probably the most emotional club in the country”, Farke has given the club one of the last grand nights at what will soon be known as ‘the old Elland Road’: a rare moment when the club felt blissfully proud of itself. Leeds United might have a tendency to make things look hard, but that doesn’t mean we can’t sometimes make them look easy. ⬢

(Photograph by Mike Egerton, via Alamy)