Heidi's Blog - Leeds v West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion v Leeds United | The Hawthorns
I had no idea what to expect from the game today as I arrived at Elland Road for the coach. I can’t remember the last time I felt so demoralised at the start of a football season as I did today. I know I’ve had plenty going on in the background over the last seven weeks with my baby granddaughter hospitalised three times and my husband being in hospital over the last week after two earlier trips to a and e including the night before I found him collapsed in the shower.
Thankfully Pippa is thriving with her infection levels back to normal, and Phillip came out of hospital yesterday after suffering a stroke. Luckily, he has suffered only mild side effects. After the game against Boro on Wednesday, the news started leaking in the early hours of Thursday morning that Rutter was the next player to be leaving which sent our social media outlets into overdrive. It was further stress I did not need as I ended up writhing on the floor with severe abdominal pains. As someone pointed out to me that I’m cursed, I don’t think he was far wrong. The curse of Leeds United has rubbed off on my family and I sadly.
After the play off final defeat at Wembley against Southampton, I was expecting us to build on the team and aim for automatic promotion. I don’t think selling the spine of our team shows any ambitions as we have desecrated the team instead. The season will depend on what performances we put on the pitch which is the only way I can make my judgements.
The game wasn’t a classic by any means but the positives we have to take from it are that we kept a clean sheet and gained a point. Not getting defeated was the main thing as I really thought we’d get hammered at first with everything going on in the background. Ampadu sent a long range shot from the halfway line when he saw their keeper off the line and Struijk came nearest with a couple of headers, one in each half. As half time was approaching, I found myself nearly falling asleep. To be honest there wasn’t much to shout about during most of the game but what was annoying, was getting a throw in in front of where the Leeds fans were in the second half only to see the ball thrown back and it ended up with Meslier. That was frustrating. WBA did look threatening at times but both teams seemed to settle for a draw.
Thanks for all the support from our fans today, who as always are second to none when looking after each other. They are what gets me through games when things are tough as well as joining in the singing. With a trip to Sheffield Wednesday on Friday, we will see whether we have any further outgoings or indeed incomings, but we are not starting the season in our strongest position as I thought we would. Not knowing who will be here or not makes it the same unsettled start as last season for me which in the end, cost us promotion as far as I’m concerned. There’s a long way to go to see whether we will be able to put a challenge in this season now and as always, only time will tell.
See you next week, LUFC – Marching on Together!
Team: Meslier, Ampadu, Rodon, Bogle, Firpo, Struijk, James, Piroe, Gnonto, Gruev, Joseph
Subs: Rothwell for Piroe (64), Aaronson for James (64), Bamford for Joseph (79)
Subs not used: Darlow, Crew, Debayo, Gelhardt, Byram, Wöber
Attendance: 25,329 (2,535 Leeds Fans)
Referee: Sam Allison
Booked: Bogle, Firpo