Sam Allardyce’s first home game in charge of Leeds ended with his side down to 10 men following Junior Firpo’s late sending off but still in with an, albeit slender, chance of Premier League survival.
When, back in 2007-08, Allardyce managed Newcastle he was very big on nullifying the opposition and his latest team did a very decent job of strictly rationing visiting chances.
It speaks volumes that the two goals scored by Eddie Howe’s frequently frustrated Champions League chasing team came from the penalty spot.
After the dullest, cloudiest, of West Yorkshire mornings brilliant sunshine flooded the pitch at kick-off. Perhaps it was a sign of brighter days ahead for a Leeds side that assumed a seventh minute lead when Nick Pope could only parry Rodrigo’s header and Luke Ayling re-directed the rebound into the empty net from four yard radius.