The Championship attracted the second-highest aggregate crowds of any division in Europe last season and, on this compelling evidence, it is easy to understand why. If this “blink and you’ll miss it” game of oscillating emotions and full-on entertainment served up by Leeds and Portsmouth here is anything to go by, England’s second tier will surely remain ahead of the Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A, and behind only the Premier League, in this term’s attendance charts, too.
As with all the best dramas, it kicked off with a thoroughly deceptive red herring of an opening 20 minutes. By the time an elegant swipe of Pascal Struijk’s left foot had sent Will Norris the wrong way from the penalty spot, Leeds were not so much on top as utterly omnipotent. With nine minutes on the clock when the penalty was given after Connor Ogilvie felled Dan James, Portsmouth were well and truly on the ropes.
