SOBS V LEEDS

Off to Elland Road we went, and the Lads showed grit, guts, determination, bottle, and any other word you'd care to mention, to get the three points that took us to the magical, mythical, memorable forty. Diarra's second half penalty, thanks to VAR, was the crucial difference and means I can stop praying for the bottom four to keep losing. Just as well, considering the Wolves win over Liverpool.

Of course, this was a game with atmosphere, unlike Bournemouth, where the "hello, whatever part of the ground" call was met with gentle applause and some mumbling. Having said that, our lot absolutely outsang the Yorkshire puddings to our right for the duration. Our boys rose to the occasion for most of the game and, when backs were to the wall, stood strong in the face of some dubious officiating. Look, I wish I didn't have to mention the ref, but I'm sure Calvert-Lewin was awarded at least one free kick because I looked at him in a slightly funny way.

It being an evening game, the auld lads assembled in Spenny Spoons for refreshments and tales from days of old following the real Lads, including a bit of cabaret, much to the consternation of the other customers. Mind, not as much consternation as the dodgy bog door on the bus... and into Elland Road before the sun went down.

Must be springtime.

A nice bit scran (well done, Leeds) accompanied the incoming line up...with Saturday's assault on Xhaka proving significant.

Ellborg

O'Nien(c) Ballard Alderete Hume

Diarra Sadiki Geertruida

Angulo Mayenda Le Fee

... and a bench of Moore, J. Jones, H. Jones, Rigg, Xhaka, Isidor, Aleksic, Traore, and Talbi.

Probs five across the back from that lot, but there's a bit of flexibility there. Which we'd probably need.

In our dark kit, which I don't like, we drowned out the announcement of the home side, and faced the end away to our fans' left as Leeds kicked off. Luke filled the right back spot while Hume was at left back and we actually set up as a flattish back four with Gerty just in front. After fifteen minutes of sounding each other out, Leeds had three corners - and there was none of the wrestling that marred Saturday's game. Two promoted sides trying to do things the right way? I guess so.

A couple of minutes later two home players tackled each other but somehow won a free kick. After our new keeper had a bit of treatment, a long ball was taken well by Eli, but his shot was tipped over - offside anyway. Ellborg then produced the game's first "proper" save, scrambling away a low free kick to his right, resulting in another two corners that we dealt with. A typical Alderete twazzle was picked up by Leeds, but we blocked the first shot and they scuffed the follow-up for a throw. Stop it, Omar!

With five to go to the break, Ellborg booted it upfield and Angulo won a corner which Leeds cleared. As the two added minutes were announced, two balls appeared on the field, and we dealt with both, although Luke was booked for kicking the second ball at the opponent who had the first one. As you'd expect him to - he's Luke.

A home free was fired the free into the wall and we drifted well past the allotted two minutes before the whistle went.

Happy at 0-0? Yes. They might have had more corners and frees, but their play was a bit one dimensional and we were disciplined enough to deal with it.

No changes for the second half for either side, and Leeds won a free on their left near the box, but Ellborg punched it away - a long way away. Ten minutes in, Xhaka and Issy replaced Gerty and Mayenda in like-for-like swaps, but the next action was a dodgy card for Diarra. I couldn't see what it was for, and our man certainly couldn't understand it. In went the free, headed in - but from an offside position, according to VAR. I bet that was a disappointment for the Yorkshire puddings who set off the yellow smoke, but it gave us a laugh.

With what we thought was twenty to go, a very obvious push was missed, but we still got the ball into the area by where an otherwise strangely lethargic Issy had a shot blocked then we thought a handball had been missed - but VAR gave the ref a shout, he had a gleg at the little screen, and gave the penalty as O'9 handed the armband to Xhaka.

VAR - doncha just love it?

Up stepped Diarra in his nonchalant style and hit it in off the diving Mag reject Darlow's arse and up into the net.

Gerrin there babby, as the Barnsley Mackems say.

Twenty minutes to forty points. Hang on in there, Lads. Some tasty challenges from both sides saw a few players wincing, and we had another corner to deal with. Angulo made way for Traore, which seemed like a sensible move until Bertie took a knock almost immediately. As we expected six or seven extra minutes, twelve were announced. Four minutes into that, Traore limped off - I don't think he'd kicked the ball - and on came Rigg to help defend a couple of corners. Thirteen minutes extra had been played when the whistle went, Luke belted the ball into the crowd, and we celebrated like we'd won the cup. Marvellous.

Man of the Match? Who epitomised what we went there to do, and what we needed to do? Just about all of them, but especially O'Nien, who did the post-match whoop whoops and generally looked delighted as usual. Therefore he gets my vote.

PS: I'd still bin VAR.