A returning hero
Mark Viduka returned to Elland Road with his family on Thursday night for the first time in a very long time.
The Australian, a cult hero after his 166 appearances and 72 goals for Leeds United, was most recently tracked down in Croatia where he is running a coffee business.
Absent from 2019’s centenary celebrations, Viduka has been one of those players from the Premier League days who has been lesser-spotted in these parts over the past two decades.
Marsch welcomed
You would often struggle to notice Marcelo Bielsa’s entrance into a Leeds game as he ambled down the tunnel and along the touchline amid the cacophony of noise surrounding the players’ entrances.
Jesse Marsch was front and centre as he came out for his home debut. Welcomed on the microphone, Marsch came out a few steps onto the pitch and took the applause of the crowd a few minutes before either of the teams.
Mings public enemy number one
Tyrone Mings was the object of the home crowd’s dissatisfaction on Thursday night. The England international was dug out by the supporters at every opportunity.
They took particular delight in one 50-50 he contested with Adam Forshaw in the 28th minute. As they both went in, full-blooded, it was Mings who was left hobbling away.
The crowd cheered and enjoyed his pained limp back to his own defensive line.
Ayling gets the crowd going
Leeds were out a long time before their visitors to start the second half, no doubt on the back of a tongue-lashing from Marsch.
Captain Ayling went out to the Jack Charlton and Norman Hunter stands to get the crowd pumping for what he knew would be a decisive 45 minutes in United’s season.
Pumping his arms, the crowd responded and provided a raucous atmosphere for the opening of the restart.
Directors’ box feels the heat
For the first time in his tenure as United owner, Andrea Radrizzani felt the full force of the home fans’ unrest in the stands at Elland Road.
As the third goal went in on Thursday night, pockets of the home support in front of the directors turned and clapped with anger.
The Italian owner, alongside director of football Victor Orta, was forced to sit there and take the onslaught from those most dissatisfied with the way this season is going.
If that message wasn’t clear enough, Marcelo Bielsa’s name was soon ringing out around the stadium.
Naturally, under the highs of Bielsa, there was no chance of anger being vented towards the top brass, but even in the brief stints of Thomas Christiansen and Paul Heckingbottom, it did not result in such public criticism from within the stadium.
A scarf protest
Soon after the third goal went in, a Leeds scarf was thrown from the John Charles Stand into the technical area by Marsch’s feet.
Martin Sykes, the club’s security chief, recovered the garment quickly, but the message had been sent and seen.
