Leeds United secured their survival on a dramatic Premier League final day with a 2-1 win over Brentford. Jack Harrison’s stoppage-time winner was enough for the Whites after Sergi Canos had cancelled out Raphinha’s penalty early in the second half.
Even with a win, Leeds were relying on results elsewhere going in their favour in order to stay up, which they did thanks to Newcastle United’s win at Burnley. Leeds’ survival sparked scenes of joy at the final whistle and so here is a round-up of how the national media reported the victory.
‘A chaotic afternoon’
Craig Hope of the Daily Mail said: “Jesse Marsch was down on the floor but Leeds United were staying up. After a chaotic afternoon of phantom celebrations, west London whispers, VAR interventions, a red card and Brentford finishing the game with nine men, Jack Harrison’s added-time blast cut through the confusion.
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“Leading 2-1 and with Burnley losing by the same scoreline at home to Newcastle with seconds of the season to play, Leeds and their 1,700 supporters knew they were safe. Clarity, at last.
“Marsch was on his back, grass stains added to the sweat stains of his crisp, white polo shirt. But, by now, the American was well and truly ruffled. His emotions had been pulled in as many directions as his defence have been in recent weeks.
“That backline was again the cause of palpitations here but it was those who can quicken the pulse at the other end who kept Leeds alive, Harrison and Raphinha the scorers to end a run of five winless matches which had made them favourites for the drop.
“On reflection, Leeds were outside the bottom three from the 20th minute onwards, when Newcastle took the lead at Burnley. It did not always feel like that.
“Fast forward to the 80th minute and with Brentford’s Sergi Canos having not long cancelled out Raphinha’s earlier penalty, a roar spread around the stadium.
“‘Leeds are falling apart, again,’ they chorused from the home end. Burnley had equalised and Leeds were going down. Or so we assumed. Not so. Marsch instructed a member of staff to concentrate solely on events at Turf Moor — the misinformation from punters was too much to bear.”
‘A season to fray the nerves’
Jim White of the Daily Telegraph said: “Leeds United, as their jubilant supporters insisted, are marching on together for another season in the Premier League. It might have been at the eleventh hour, it might have been against a Brentford team reduced to nine men, but never mind. A scrabbled, scrambled, stressful season was forgotten in an explosion of delight when Jack Harrison’s deflected finish in injury time delivered the three points that confirmed topflight retention.
“Rarely has hanging on been celebrated with such gusto. And such eccentricity. After the final whistle, Leeds’ Brazilian playmaker Raphinha, who had opened the scoring with a smartly taken penalty, crawled the length of the pitch on his knees in a bizarre demonstration of relief.
““I believed we were going to do this,” said the delighted Leeds manager Jesse Marsch. “There was not one day when I didn’t believe. This business is about belief and exuding it as a leader. I believed in the players, in their character.”
“And how their exultant Leeds fans relished their moment. This has been a season to fray the nerves, to test the faith. None of that matters now. As they chanted long and hard: they are staying up.”
‘Their euphoria was hardly surprising’
Simon Stone of BBC Sport said: “The result meant Leeds became the first side since Wigan in 2011 to survive after starting the final day in the bottom three.
“Although the Leeds players and staff were booed by the Brentford fans for the duration of their celebrations after the final whistle, which delayed the home side's planned lap of honour, their euphoria was hardly surprising.
“With just two points from their last five games, the sense of trepidation among Leeds fans on their journey south was understandable. If a reminder was needed of how uncertain the final day could be, it came in a two-minute period midway through the opening half.
“News of Newcastle's penalty award at Turf Moor was filtering into the visiting section, which was starting to crackle with excited noise, when Joe Gelhardt buried a shot into the Brentford net. The reaction of referee Paul Tierney suggested he felt the goal would not stand and VAR duly ruled it out for offside. At almost exactly the same time, Newcastle converted their spot-kick.
“Even after Raphinha had kept his nerve to find the net after he had been chopped down by Brentford keeper David Raya, Leeds fans still did not allow themselves to believe the escape act was on. Canos duly brought them down to earth with his equaliser but he was booked for his celebration and then followed that up by fouling Raphinha, which wrecked Brentford's chances of turning the game around.
“Leeds' safety was ensured when Harrison drilled home the winner and, to their credit, Leeds' fans remained in the stands as they sang their songs of survival.”
