Rob Green’s form has been one of many pleasant surprises from an excellent season for Leeds United.
Leeds United’s Rob Green
Rob Green has suggested that his vital contribution in Leeds’ Yorkshire derby with Sheffield Wednesday in February was a particularly pleasing moment from the season for him personally, the Yorkshire Evening Post reports.
Green had enjoyed a predominantly excellent season for the Whites leading into the contest with the Owls, but was perhaps still awaiting that potentially season-defining moment when Leeds’ play-off rivals travelled to Elland Road.
The Whites had taken the lead through Chris Wood during the first-half, but Wednesday were handed a chance to capitalise on the pressure they had been putting on after the break as the referee handed Carlos Carvalhal’s men a penalty.
Jordan Rhodes – arguably, one of the Championship’s most lethal strikers over the last decade – was the man to step up, but his effort into Green’s bottom left corner was met by the former QPR man, who tipped the effort onto the post.
That would be the last shot on target in the game as Leeds held on to a 1-0 win that gave Garry Monk’s men some further important breathing space between themselves and the chasing pack outside the top six.
And Green has earmarked that moment as a particularly important one during his time at Elland Road.
“That’s as good as it gets (for a keeper) – in close games where you manage to pull something out,” he said, as reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post.
“The one against Sheffield Wednesday was particularly pleasing because it felt like they were coming back into the game. The pressure was starting to mount and that released it a bit. It makes a difference and it’s pleasing.”
Since that moment, it has surely been fair to say that Leeds have been indebted to Green on a number of occasions, and the 37-year-old has stepped up virtually every time.
While there have been major contributions all over the pitch, it could certainly be argued that Green’s form, and the confidence he gives the back four, has been a key reason why Leeds are now arguably one of the favourites to secure a play-off spot, and still have the slightest chance of challenging the top two.
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