Jamie Carragher has admitted that Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch surprised him with a first-half substitution in the classic at Wolverhampton Wanderers tonight.
Leeds have been enduring a shocking season in comparison to the 2020-21 campaign.
And it got worse when Patrick Bamford, only back from a three-month layoff, went off injured with a suspected ankle problem within 23 minutes at Molineux.
Joe Gelhardt, who scored a last-minute winner against Norwich City last weekend, was the obvious candidate to replace the 28-year-old United hitman.
However, the American manager instead elected to give Sam Greenwood a run-out instead of Gelhardt.
Prior to tonight, Greenwood, who joined from Arsenal in 2020, only had one Premier League appearance under his belt.
And Carragher, speaking during his commentary on Sky Sports, said briefly: “I’m surprised Gelhardt hasn’t come on.”
The hosts enjoyed a commanding 2-0 lead at the break following goals from Jonny and Franciso Trincao, but an early red card for Raul Jimemez – albeit a controversial one – in the second half handed Leeds a massive lifeline.
And Marsch’s troops took full advantage.
First, Jack Harrison reduced the deficit to one goal on 63 minutes, before Rodrigo scored a farcical second from a difficult angle to complete the comeback, while Luke Ayling snatched a last-gasp winner.
As for Greenwood, well he didn’t have a massive impact on proceedings but so long as Leeds salvaged the victory, the former Leipzig manager might’ve got away with not using Gelhardt.
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