It was always going to be a strange atmosphere inside Elland Road on Sunday afternoon. Leeds United’s fate wasn’t sealed before the game, but those who made the journey to Beeston knew their side needed a miracle if they were to stay in the Premier League.
Chances to pick up points had come and gone throughout the closing weeks of the campaign and many supporters had probably already come to terms with their side’s relegation from the Premier League. It’s been in the post for some time for Leeds and that probably sucked an element of the tension and expectation out of the day for a lot of those inside the ground.
That didn’t stop supporters from belting out ‘Marching on Together’ with all their hearts as the two teams entered the field of play on the final day of the season in the thin hope that something special would unfold in front of their eyes. Unfortunately, they were let down by the 11 players representing them on the field of play.
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Relegation was all but a formality from the second minute of the game as Harry Kane beat Joel Robles and Leeds never looked capable of changing that. That goal prompted one of the more pointed chants of the afternoon as Marcelo Bielsa’s name rang around the stadium, starting in the South Stand and travelling around to the Kop.
That was followed by 40-odd minutes of self-deprecating, almost humorous chants as fans came to terms with their fate by poking fun at themselves, despite the circumstances. ‘That’s why we’re going down’, ‘We’re going down’, and ‘Leeds are falling apart’, could all be heard from the home ends in between a full rendition of their songbook from front to back.
The likes of Gaetano Berardi, Jermaine Beckford, Pablo Hernandez and even Lucas Radebe had their names sung by the Whites’ faithful as supporters began to reminisce about better days and some of their favourite stars. It was the best Leeds fans had to offer in such a situation, but anger came in the second half as Tottenham began to run away with the contest.
Pedro Porro’s goal just after the interval provoked a release of frustration in the stands. A defiant ‘Marching on Together’ in the 63rd minute and muted celebrations followed four minutes later as Jack Harrison found the back of the net.
That was before Kane’s second, which prompted several fans to leave their seats and attempt to get a head start on the traffic. As confirmation of Leeds’ failure to secure top flight status ticked closer and closer, more frustration came from the stands, with aim being taken at the players and the board.
Most supporters hung around to see their fate confirmed by Anthony Taylor’s final whistle and it was greeted by a mixture of anger and tears. For many this relegation felt so avoidable, but Leeds are now counting the cost of the mistakes made on and off the field.
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