Leeds United’s fans have had their say on Sunday’s dramatic FA Cup success at Birmingham City.
Here is what our YEP Jury had to say including agreement on two standout Whites stars but thoughts about an ‘anonymous’ Whites man and a let off in the Blues not finishing the game in normal time.
NEIL GREWER
As expected, Daniel Farke made numerous changes to the starting XI and set up with a flat back four.
The game once again proved this is not our best formation and Leeds struggled from kick off to gain any control.
When half-time arrived, Leeds had been second best with Lucas Perri making some decent saves, but with no score, Farke had the opportunity to address the issues.
Ethan Ampadu was introduced for an ineffective Facundo Buonanotte and within a few minutes there was an improvement culminating in Lukas Nmecha scoring with a powerful drive from just inside the penalty area – a shot which a Premier League keeper would probably have saved.
But Birmingham kept applying the pressure.
The home crowd provided great noise and backing and eventually a powerful shot from outside the penalty area hit the back of the net following a headed flick from an unlucky James Justin.
Extra-time saw Birmingham dominate again but Leeds held firm, before scoring four penalties from four with Perri saving one and another being missed by Birmingham. Phew!
Man of the match: Lucas Perri – his penalty save and first-half save were the day’s highlights.
“They were proven wrong”
ANDY RHODES
Well, if there are any Leeds United fans out there who thought the FA Cup would provide a distraction to the stresses of the Premier League survival fight they were proven wrong on Sunday.
After a comfortable win at Derby County in round three, a trip to Birmingham was always going to be more difficult.
The hosts made Leeds look average in the first half and, although swapping Facundo Buananotte for Ethan Ampadu at half-time changed the direction of the game, it didn’t stop the Blues taking Leeds to extra-time, and then to penalties.
In the end, the Whites were lucky not to be dumped out of the competition in normal time.
They couldn’t live with Birmingham winger Ibrahim Osman who struck the post and could easily have won it.
The visitors’ class told in the end but it was a tense win and Daniel Farke was forced to call on players he would rather have rested.
It’s back to business in the league now, and a tricky game at Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon.
Man of the match: Ethan Ampadu.
“Actually we’ve managed it three out of the last four seasons”
DAVID WATKINS
We thought we’d won it, but it was very ‘Leedsy’ to concede in the 89th minute!
Then, when it went to penalties, I’m sure most fans, like me, thought that was that, we’d seen the script before, most recently at Hillsborough back in August!
But no! Leeds scored four out of four penalties, and Lucas Perri superbly saved one, and Leeds were into the fifth round of the FA Cup.
It feels like a rare event, but actually we’ve managed it three out of the last four seasons… prior to that, though, we specialised in early exits.
And just one quarter-final appearance in 28 years should be incentive enough to have a right good go in the fifth round.
The penalty outcome was hard on Birmingham, especially after their first-half performance, when they were the better side, dominating possession and shots and forcing Perri into four good saves, including a brilliant tip onto the post from Jay Stansfield.
In the second half, Leeds were much better with the steadying influence of Ethan Ampadu and, for a long time after Lukas Nmecha rasped home the opening goal, it looked as if we were home and dry.
Not so, but all’s well that ends well!
Men of the match: Ethan Ampadu and Lucas Perri.
“Maybe a bit unlucky to go out”
KEITH INGHAM
Leeds United progressed to round five of the FA Cup on penalties but many Birmingham City fans will think that they gave as good as they got and were maybe a bit unlucky to go out of the competition.
Leeds weren’t at their best and could have been two goals behind at the break but for two great saves from the returning Lucas Perri, the first one was outstanding as he got his fingers to the ball and it struck the bar.
They didn’t offer much in return. A really poor half for Leeds.
Facundo Bounanotte was pulled at the break as the loan midfielder was struggling to make an impact.
Ethan Ampadu was his replacement and Leeds were ahead within minutes, Lukas Nmecha scoring a ‘screamer’.
Birmingham had chances to equalise but their efforts were either blocked or poorly finished.
With time nearly up Patrick Roberts scored an equaliser, his effort deflected by James Justin past Perri.
City could have won it but an effort came back off the post in injury time.
Substitute Calvert-Lewin then had an effort deflected and the game ended with a penalty shootout that Leeds won 4-2.
So, into the next round. It’s nice that Leeds have got so far.
Man of the match: Lucas Perri, two superb saves during the game and another in the shootout.
“Almost anonymous”
This was a fair result against a worthy opponent.
The first half was short on excitement but four minutes after the break, Lucas Nmecha put the Whites ahead after good work by Noah Okafor.
Daniel Farke had withdrawn the almost anonymous Facundo Buonanotte and the introduction of captain Ethan Ampadu did much to galvanise the Whites in all departments.
As the clock ran down, Patrick Roberts hit an unstoppable drive which found the top corner and won 30 minutes of extra-time for the Blues.
Action continued at both ends with Jaka Bijol blocking Kanya Fujimoto's shot when it had bounced back to him after Ibrahim Osman's shot had hit the post.
At the other end, Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s shot was blocked and fell to Ampadu who skied it over the bar.
Joel Piroe led the penalty takers in the shootout and their confident performance was a marked contrast to their pathetic showing against Sheffield Wednesday in the Carabao Cup.
Their job was made easier by the hero of the hour, Lucas Perri who made a fine save from Tommy Doyle, setting up a Whites win.
Man of the match: Lucas Perri.
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