The Leeds United fans will still be feeling pretty raw after losing the Championship play-off final to Southampton on Sunday.
Daniel Farke and his players rocked up to Wembley as the favourites for this highly-pressured and Premier League-rewarding tie.
But in the end, Leeds suffered a deserved 1-0 defeat and what will hurt most is the team hardly turned up in the biggest game of their season.
What’s interesting is that Leeds started the game very well, they were setting the tempo and showing encouraging signs without testing the Southampton keeper.
But Russell Martin’s side started to control the game, before opening the scoring through Adam Armstrong, and then doing their jobs, from back to front, to an absolute tee with no answer from their opponents for the entire match.
You don’t blame the Leeds fans for, not just being annoyed with the defeat, but their players not turning up and all, bar probably one, deserve the verbal stick they are going to get.
One man who Troy Deeney wanted to highlight for praise was Dan James after he was introduced into the action just after the hour mark.
The former striker shared that he spoke to the speedster after the match and felt he was ‘the best player on the pitch by a country mile’ when he came on, as he told Sky Sports Football (26/05/24 at 5:55 pm).
That one big moment came when James hit the woodwork after a quite stunning effort from the edge of the box.
You just knew that the luck wasn’t going Leeds’ way because the ball came straight back out and out of danger.
Dan James praised after Leeds United lose play-off final
“I went and saw Dan James just now,” said Deeney. “It’s not about Leeds and it’s not their moment, at all. But he was excellent when he came on.
“It’s the willingness to. You don’t have to be quick. You can identify space and say ‘I am going to run’. When they took off probably their two best players this season, the wide men, and they put on (Dan James and Jaidon Anthony). All they wanted to do was come short and run in behind. They started dinking balls and asking questions of Southampton, and they created problems.
“Dan James was the best player on the pitch when he came on, by a country mile. All he did, and I just spoke to him, is come short and run in behind. Use his assets. He is quick.”
Big changes at Leeds United
You feel there are going to be many, many changes at the club in the summer. Mainly forced.
From a financial perspective, you feel certain individuals will head for the exit door and one of them will probably be winger Crysencio Summerville.
READ MORE: Troy Deeney blasts ‘very poor’ Leeds United star during play-off final v Southampton
The likes of Archie Gray might also gain increased transfer interest, but this is where Leeds need to be brave and keep hold of as many of their key players.
Farke will probably stay in his job, but you just know that he has to start next season well, or the fans will be gunning for his blood.
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