Pre-match frivolity
Leeds United’s players arrived at Molineux shortly after 6.30pm on Friday night. The vast majority then headed onto the field for an inspection.
Unusually, a few balls came out and Illan Meslier and Joe Gelhardt had a mess around in one of the penalty boxes. The pair played a little one vs one until the teenage striker promptly lobbed the goalkeeper from three yards.
Carragher’s old Leeds mate
Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville were in the stadium working with Sky Sports on their coverage at Molineux. Aside from their theatrics with the in-stadium DJ, Carragher did spot one old friend in a Leeds tracksuit as he wandered around the dugout area.
READ MORE: Jesse Marsch's first words on Leeds United comeback, red card, his sub decisions and injuries
Rob Price, United’s head of medicine and performance, was on the staff at Liverpool during Carragher’s playing days. They were only too happy to see each other and share a quick natter before the Liverpudlian was dragged away for TV duties.
Bamford’s tears and his brothers in arms
The latest sorry episode in Patrick Bamford’s season played out within the opening 25 minutes of Friday’s match. After stretching for a promising ball over the top, Bamford over-extended and landed awkwardly before gingerly hobbling away.
He immediately signalled to the bench for treatment and within 90 seconds Sam Greenwood was stripped for entry in the technical area. Bamford could not hold back his emotions or tears in the dugout as he took his seat.
Liam Cooper and Kalvin Phillips, who know all about the pain of injury, got around him, embraced him and shielded him from the cameras. Cooper would sit there with his arm over Bamford’s shoulder as the tears welled in his eyes on later shots from the cameras.
Marsch has seen enough
After another miserable half, Jesse Marsch had seen enough when he saw the second Wolves goal go in. With his coat half off and caught at his wrist, he stormed away down the tunnel before he had even heard the half-time whistle.
Phillips gets busy on the touchline
There was never any intention of Kalvin Phillips playing at Molineux on Friday, but you had the clearest sense of why Marsch wanted him in the squad and in the dugout. The England international was heading, kicking, celebrating and arguing anything he could from the touchline throughout the evening.
At 2-0 down, when all still felt lost in the second half, Phillips was the advisor. During a break in play, he came out to talk to Luke Ayling and tried giving him tips on what he was seeing go wrong from the touchline.
Then, Phillips was possibly the most aggressive Leeds employee calling for action against Raul Jimenez and his late shunt on Illan Meslier which led to the second yellow card. Phillips brought Liam Cooper and Patrick Bamford alongside him too as they protested to the fourth official while Stuart Dallas lay prone on the floor following that hefty tackle from Joao Moutinho.
Not the head coach or his assistants, three players.
The subs are carded
You may have missed it amid the chaos of the winning goal, but referee Kevin Friend was only too happy to book Phillips and the three other subs who went with him to celebrate with their team-mates on the far side of the pitch.
