With just 12 games remaining in the Championship season, Leeds United have cemented their place at the top of the table following a 3-1 victory over Sheffield United on Monday night.
Daniel Farke’s side recovered from a sluggish start at Bramall Lane, overturning a 1-0 deficit to claim a vital three points against their closest rivals for automatic promotion.
Sheffield United started strongly and capitalised on a shaky Leeds defence when Illan Meslier inadvertently scored an own goal. However, Leeds quickly grew into the contest and equalised through a Junior Firpo header.
The match remained tightly contested until the final minutes, when Ao Tanaka nodded home an 89th-minute goal, followed by Joel Piroe netting his 15th goal of the season to seal the win.
Controversial Decision: Should Sheffield United Have Seen Red?
Despite Leeds’ comeback, former defender and LUTV co-commentator Tony Dorigo believes Sheffield United were fortunate to finish the match with 11 men on the field.
Gustavo Hamer was introduced in the second half and quickly earned a booking for a reckless challenge on his former Blades teammate Jayden Bogle. However, the controversy arose in the 86th minute when Hamer fouled Ao Tanaka.
“He just goes straight through the back of him. You think if he didn’t have a yellow already then the referee might have awarded one. Tanaka’s is no worse than that. He’s a lucky boy to still be on the pitch.” — Tony Dorigo, LUTV
Many believed the challenge warranted a second yellow card, which would have left Sheffield United playing the closing minutes with ten men.
Gustavo Hamer’s Missed Opportunity
Hamer had a point to prove against Leeds after the Whites reportedly made a £13m bid for him last summer. However, Sheffield United rejected the approach, opting to keep hold of the Brazilian-born midfielder.
On Monday night, Hamer had a chance to show Leeds what they missed out on but struggled to make a meaningful impact. Bogle frequently got the better of him, and Tanaka’s clever movement exposed his defensive shortcomings.
Writer’s View
Leeds’ resilience has been on full display over the past two weeks, with back-to-back comeback wins against Sunderland and Sheffield United. While Meslier had a shaky start, the team showed great composure to recover and take control of the game.
As for Hamer, his performance raised doubts about whether he could thrive in the Premier League. His defensive lapses and lack of composure were evident, and Leeds will likely target a more consistent midfielder in the summer.
