Pablo Hernandez asked whether assist for Leeds’ third goal against Ipswich was intentional

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Pablo Hernandez played a vital role in Leeds United’s third goal as they beat Ipswich Town 3-2 at Elland Road.

Pablo Hernandez has told BBC Radio Leeds that he was trying to score from the corner that led to Leeds’ third goal during their 3-2 win over Ipswich at Elland Road.

The Whites had been under some pressure heading to the midway point in the second-half, with their lead only at 2-1 with goals from Pierre-Michel Lasogga and Kalvin Phillips coming either side of David McGoldrick’s header for the visitors.

But Leeds then created some much-needed breathing space, but only after a huge helping hand from opposition goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski as he dropped Hernandez’s inswinging corner over the goal line for what proved to be the winner.

And after the game, the Spaniard insisted that it was his intention to test Bialkowski directly from the corner after seeing the position the Ipswich stopper was taking up at set-pieces.

“Yes, I tried [to score] because when I saw the goalkeeper, his position was not good,” he told BBC Radio Leeds.

“He’s maybe two or three metres off the line and I thought it maybe had a chance to go in. I had the luck because he didn’t catch the ball and the ball goes in.”

If Hernandez did indeed mean to score directly from the corner, then he arguably deserves a huge amount of praise for his vision as well as his ability to actually put the ball on target and catch the goalkeeper by surprise.

Of course, Bialkowski should have done better with the attempt. But Hernandez should be praised as the goal came at an important time in the game and ultimately proved to be the winner that has kept Leeds at the top of the division.