As they waited for the teams to be announced Leeds fans debated whether their new manager, Javi Gracia, should drop Junior Firpo.
Not everyone appeared delighted when Jesse Marsch’s successor opted to stick with the left-back but, in the 77th minute, Gracia’s faith was rewarded when Firpo scored his first Premier League goal.
It was a fine finish yet Gracia, back in the technical area after an eight month sabbatical following his sacking by the Qatari champions, Al Sadd, also deserves credit for the game-changing introduction of Crysencio Summerville who helped create Firpo’s precious strike.
Small wonder the Spaniard was left smiling. “I feel really good, really happy,” he said after seeing his side secure a first win in 11 league games and move out of the relegation zone. “It was one step but an important step.