Firpo pandemonium
Much like Pablo Hernandez’s winner at Swansea City or Joe Gelhardt’s killer at home to Norwich City last season, you can always measure the magnitude of a Leeds United goal by the number of people deserting the bench. Gaetano Berardi looked like he was hunting for prey as he skipped the Liberty Stadium hoardings in search of Pablo, Stuart Dallas was sending word to Cookstown with the speed and ferocity of punches to the turf when Gelhardt wheeled away.
Junior Firpo’s goal was monumental for the whole of the club, not just him, a left-back who has had a tough time of it since arriving from Barcelona. Marc Roca flooded onto the field to directly catch his compatriot.
Wilfried Gnonto, lagging behind a dozen of his teammates, would trot down the touchline from the bench himself, grinning from ear to ear. The Italian got a yellow card for his trouble too.
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There was jubilation in the technical area too. Javi Gracia and his backroom team took this first opportunity to bond with the squad and hug, despite so little time together up to now.
Orta’s tears
Seven days on from the away support calling for his head, Victor Orta was in tears as Firpo and the team celebrated a priceless goal. The director of football has been at the forefront of so many decisions, he is understandably going to come under scrutiny when the team is struggling.
With the match heading for a useless 0-0 draw, Orta could not hold back the emotion as one of his signings found the winner. The glasses came off and he couldn’t stop himself from blubbing.
Friends reunited
Among the players chatting and swapping shirts after the full-time whistle were Georginio Rutter and Southampton forward Sekou Mara. The pair are teammates at France under-21 level.
Rutter finds his feet
Rutter may have again been restricted to a cameo role from the bench for the Whites, but there was evidence of improvement at Elland Road. The forward was vocal and keen to keep the troops rallied as the match entered its final stages.
He was enjoying the home support too. After the final whistle, he went around the pitch alongside friend Illan Meslier and was happy to get stuck into the encouragement the goalkeeper traditionally gives the Norman Hunter Stand.
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