UK Edition
Leeds suffer major promotion blow as 10-man Wigan pinch precious victory
“Leeds are going up,” has been the soundtrack to this season’s promotion push and it rang around Elland Road as Marcelo Bielsa’s team eyed the promised land. Ninety minutes later, they were not going up any more.
Not automatically, unless Sheffield United slip up. Now Leeds’ destiny is out of their own hands. Their exile in the lower leagues, spanning 15 years and 687 games, plus the odd play-off heartache, may not have just three more matches to go. “Leeds are falling apart again,” crowed the Wigan fans, but even a club with United’s tortured, chequered past have had few more damaging days.
“We will heal this wound only by getting promoted,” Bielsa said. Leeds had problems on and off the pitch, and they are investigating allegations their fans threw objects at Wigan players. Coins were thrown on to the pitch in the victory over Millwall here this month.
Bielsa, who had urged supporters to calm down, branded defeat the worst moment of his reign and added: “You have games like today that you have to win. I have no explanation that justifies a loss like this. We had all the ingredients to win. At this moment of the season, we had everything in our favour and we couldn’t take advantage.”
Leeds faced 10 men for 76 minutes, led and still lost. Whereas Sheffield United had an opponent sent off and took advantage to beat Nottingham Forest, Leeds showed their self-destructive streak to trail their Yorkshire rivals in second on goal difference.
Wigan had Cedric Kipre wrongly sent off, but channelled feelings of injustice brilliantly. A magnificent rearguard action and Gavin Massey’s goals earned a massive win, their first on the road since August.
“People who watched us would wonder why we had the worst away record in the league,” said Paul Cook, their manager. Play like this and they will not go down to League One for the third time in five years. Play like this and Leeds will not be heading to the Premier League.
Bielsa shouldered the blame. “Honestly, I don’t think the players are responsible,” he said. Yet Pablo Hernandez became the second Leeds player to miss a penalty in three weeks. They had 36 shots and 15 corners, but only scored once. Leeds are the only one of the top five who do not have a 20-goal striker. That lack of a clinical touch could come at huge cost.
In Patrick Bamford’s defence, he took his tally into double figures and reduced Wigan to 10 men, albeit harshly. “Destiny gave us a hand,” admitted Bielsa.
Yet Kipre did not handle, the ball rebounding off his chest as he blocked Bamford’s shot on the line. Referee Scott Duncan nevertheless sent off the centre-back. Hernandez, who rolled his penalty against a post, spared Wigan further punishment.
“The first thought is ‘how many can we keep it down to?’” admitted Cook. Leeds were one up when Bamford controlled the rampaging Luke Ayling’s cross, spun and shot past Christian Walton.
Yet Leeds nerves were apparent. “A mental weakness that was not expected,” Bielsa said. Gaetano Berardi almost gifted Leon Clarke an equaliser before Massey latched on to Lee Evans’s pass to rifle Wigan level. Having scored three goals all season, he got two in 18 minutes, heading past a motionless Kiko Casilla. The selfless assist came from Clarke, the on-loan Sheffield United striker doing his parent club a huge favour. Wigan almost got a third when the outstanding Reece James clipped the bar with a free-kick and should have been awarded a penalty.
But Leeds exerted almost perpetual pressure. Wigan winger Kal Naismith was a heroic makeshift centre-back after Kipre’s red card and Cook added: “The players defended manfully. Your goalkeeper has to play well if you want to win at Leeds.” Walton did, denying the substitute Kemar Roofe, Bamford, Hernandez and Ezgjan Alioski.
Wigan’s celebrations at the final whistle were euphoric, with Cook bounding around the pitch, but Bielsa was morose. A year’s efforts could be in vain. He said: “The result condemns my work.”
The home straight
With four games left of the season, we are most definitely in squeaky bum time. And if Leeds can keep their nerve then they will be back in the Premier League for the first time in 16 years.
After Sheffield United's win over Nottingham Forest earlier, Leeds are out of the promotion spots on goal difference but will return to second if they avoid defeat this afternoon against Wigan.
In reality, only a win will do for Marcelo Bielsa's team against a Wigan side that are one place, and two points above the relegation zone.
Kick-off is at 3pm and after last week's 1-0 win against Sheffield Wednesday, Marcelo Bielsa has named an unchanged side.
They will line up as follows:
Leeds: Casilla; Alioski, Berardi, Jansson, Ayling; Phillips; Klich, Harrison, Hernandez, Roberts; Bamford
Wigan make just the one change from the side that held leaders Norwich last week, with Cedric Kipre replacing the injured Danny Fox.
Wigan: Walton; Byrne, Dunkley, Kipre, Robinson; Morsy, James; Naismith, Evans, Massey; Clarke