December 26, 2024

Leeds United 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur: Premier League – as it happened

Leeds #Leeds

9.56am EDT 09:56

Richard Jolly was at Elland Road for this one. His report has landed, so get clicking below. Thanks for reading this MBM.

Leeds’ Rodrigo breaks to deal blow to Tottenham’s slim top-four hopes

9.55am EDT 09:55

On BT Sport, Rio Ferdinand explodes in glorious righteous indignation, having spotted Erik Lamela attempting a crossfield rabona pass when 3-1 down with minutes remaining. It flew out of play. Ferdinand suggests that, had somebody tried that during his days at Manchester United, “there would have been people in a queue trying to get at the person who done it … there would have been a conversation after … some people might look at this saying ‘he’s only tried a rabona’, but it’s what that means, what that signals to the opposing team. They’re not serious. They ain’t serious about this. They’re little moments that shape the way the team is seen and how it feels, how it’s perceived. You gotta look right.”

9.47am EDT 09:47

A bitterly disappointed Ryan Mason talks to BT Sport. “We had moments, opportunities, but we were not clinical enough at times. They started bright, got in the lead, but we got a goal back and at 1-1 there was an offside decision … I’m shocked, I can’t believe it’s been given offside to be perfectly honest. I don’t think people understand the shift in momentum decisions like that can have in a game of football. 2-1 is a completely different game. Second half we had opportunities and big moments that didn’t go in for us, and we were chasing the game and they got one on the counter. My first, second and tenth look is that it’s not an offside decision. In my opinion they got that one wrong. It’s a disappointing result that hurts. We will focus on the next game.”

9.31am EDT 09:31

A word with Patrick Bamford, who scored his 15th goal of the season today. “The first half was definitely stronger for us than the second, they came back into it a little bit. But we stood strong and they’re a top team with top players. We had to be fully concentrated all the time. That goal at the end settled a few nerves, I think. The last few games, for some reason, we’ve shored up at the back a little bit, we’re not shipping as many chances, but we’ve barely created any in the last four or five games. So it’s been frustrating for me, but obviously it’s nice today that we got the balance right. Our wingers were brilliant. They put the ball in the right position, they were difficult goals to defend. I didn’t set myself a figure at the start of the season, I thought double figures would be respectable, but since I’ve pushed past ten, I’ve been trying to get as many as I can. It’s nice to get on the scoresheet.”

9.25am EDT 09:25

After that thoroughly deserved, comprehensive, impressive win, Leeds United rise to ninth place in the Premier League table with 50 points. Tottenham remain in sixth on 56, five points off fourth-placed Chelsea, who have a game in hand. If third-placed Leicester win one more game, and Chelsea win two, Spurs can’t qualify for the Champions League, even if they win their remaining three fixtures.

9.22am EDT 09:22

FULL TIME: Leeds United 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur

Leeds are on course for a top-half finish. Tottenham’s dreams of qualifying for the Champions League look a pipe dream now.

9.21am EDT 09:21

90 min +3: The BT cameras pick out Daniel Levy in the stand, miserable behind his mask. “The reason Spurs are in this position is because Levy should never have fired Poch,” begins Adam Levine. “Then he should never have appointed Mourinho. Then he fired Mourinho which was entirely financially motivated and was probably the wrong thing to do at this time of the season. Then he appoints Ryan Mason only because he is available and cheap. There is no other walk of life where someone would fail so publicly and so consistently and still be in the job. Except politics obviously.”

9.19am EDT 09:19

90 min +2: Lamela tries to put a sheen on the scoreline with an effort from a tight angle on the left, but it’s no good.

9.19am EDT 09:19

90 min +1: Dallas aims a curler towards the top right. Lloris saves well to avoid the score becoming slightly embarrassing for Spurs.

9.18am EDT 09:18

90 min: There will be four added minutes. Spurs just want to go home.

9.18am EDT 09:18

89 min: Klich makes way for Phillips. A reminder that Leeds have been sensational today despite the absence of their star midfielder. What a team Bielsa has built, like that’s breaking news.

9.16am EDT 09:16

88 min: Leeds, Leeds, Leeds continue to press, press, press. Spurs are forced into giving up possession again, and Rodrigo surges down the inside right. He can’t quite dribble his way through the Spurs defence, but gives it a good go.

9.14am EDT 09:14

86 min: Unless Spurs can conjure up three goals in the last three minutes plus stoppages, their hopes of a top-four finish, already slim before kick-off, are kaput.

9.12am EDT 09:12

85 min: There’s a VAR check, but Raphinha was played onside by Dier.

9.12am EDT 09:12

GOAL! Leeds United 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur (Rodrigo 84)

Raphinha is sent scampering down the left by Klich. He’s in acres. He crosses towards Rodrigo, on the penalty spot. Rodrigo meets the ball first time and sweeps it into the bottom left. What a lovely, smooth, clinical break!

Raphinha pulls the ball back to Rodrigo …Photograph: Tom Jenkins/NMC Pool/The Guardian Who strokes the ball home for Leeds’ third goal … Photograph: Tom Jenkins/NMC Pool/The Guardian Then wheels away in celebration. Photograph: Mark Robinson/NMC Pool Harry Kane looks on as Leeds celebrate their third goal. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/NMC Pool/The Guardian

Updated at 10.49am EDT

9.10am EDT 09:10

82 min: Klick is inches away from curling into the top right from 25 yards. Not sure Lloris was getting to that.

9.09am EDT 09:09

81 min: It’s great end-to-end stuff. Dier whistles a cross in from the left. Alioski volleys clear. Leeds counter, Raphinha crossing deep from his left flank. Reguilon heads confidently back to Lloris.

9.06am EDT 09:06

79 min: Leeds make their second change. Rodrigo comes on for Bamford.

9.05am EDT 09:05

77 min: Kane and Lo Celso exchange passes down the inside-left channel. Lo Celso takes a whack from a tight angle. Meslier sticks a leg out to block. This game continues to breathlessly entertain.

9.04am EDT 09:04

76 min: Raphinha, Bamford, Klich, Bamford, Harrison, Bamford and Harrison combine, painting pretty triangles, left to right across the face of the Spurs box. Eventually Harrison launches over the bar from ten yards. And yes, there does appear to be a couple of Harrisons and three Bamfords on the pitch right now. Leeds are like that when in full flight.

Leeds’ Jack Harrison hooks a shot goalwards … Photograph: Mark Robinson/NMC Pool Close but no cigar. Photograph: Mark Robinson/NMC Pool

Updated at 9.36am EDT

9.02am EDT 09:02

75 min: Lo Celso dribble with purpose down the left. He dinks into a crowded six-yard box. With Kane winding his neck back, preparing to head home, Alioski eyebrows out for a corner, from which nothing happens.

9.01am EDT 09:01

73 min: Spurs having come so close to equalising, Leeds now romp upfield and nearly make it 3-1. Raphinha dribbles down the left and rolls infield for Klich, who looks to have a free shot from ten yards. He shoots, but suddenly Alderweireld appears from nowhere, sliding in to block. That’s some mighty fine last-ditch defending.

8.59am EDT 08:59

72 min: From the corner, Harrison tries to counter, but hauls back Reguilon by the shoulder and it’s a free kick, just to the left of the D. Kane’s eyes light up. He takes, and aims a curler towards the top right. It hits the top of the bar. Meslier probably had that covered had it been on target.

8.58am EDT 08:58

71 min: Lucas works his way down the right and sends a surprise shot towards the top right when everyone was expecting a cross. A big deflection off Alioski, too. Meslier does extremely well to adjust and tip over the bar. Fine reaction save.

8.57am EDT 08:57

70 min: Lamela slips, allowing Koch to make off with the ball. He’s got Bamford up with him, Spurs light at the back, but the pair get their wires crossed and Koch passes into a big fat wide open space.

8.56am EDT 08:56

68 min: Alioski hassles Lucas from behind, irritating the sub into swinging an arm. It connects with his face. Just a yellow card.

8.54am EDT 08:54

67 min: Spurs make a double change. Alli, who has faded since the break, is replaced by Lamela, while Bale makes way for Lucas Moura, who two years ago to the day did this:

Ajax 2-3 Tottenham (agg: 3-3): Champions League semi-final, second leg – as it happened

8.52am EDT 08:52

65 min: Harrison nudges Son to the ground out on the left wing. Free kick. A chance for Spurs to load the box.

8.51am EDT 08:51

63 min: Alioski crosses from a deep position on the left, surprising the Spurs defence and nearly finding Bamford free. The ball’s half cleared. Harrison then grooves down the right. He pulls back for Klich, who sends a rising snapshot towards the top right. Lloris parries brilliantly. What a save! Dallas picks up the rebound and earns a free kick near the left-hand corner flag, but the resulting set piece is a waste of time.

8.48am EDT 08:48

61 min: Reguilon goes into the book for an extremely soft brush on Raphinha’s ankle.

8.47am EDT 08:47

60 min: Kane slips a pass in from the left. Son takes a whack from the edge of the D. Struijk gets across to block, deflecting out for a corner that leads to nowt.

8.46am EDT 08:46

59 min: Raphinha takes up his position on the left. Harrison ambles over to the opposite flank, shoving Dallas infield.

8.45am EDT 08:45

58 min: Dier strokes a long pass down the left for Kane, who nearly worms his way into the Leeds box. Not quite, but it’s yet another example of Tottenham’s growing confidence, and Marcelo Bielsa has decided to shake things up. Roberts is replaced by Raphinha.

8.43am EDT 08:43

56 min: Lo Celso intercepts a Leeds attack and slips a pass down the inside-left channel for Son, who enters the box and lashes into the side netting. That was a decent chance; you’d expect Son to be more clinical there. But Spurs are getting back into this.

8.42am EDT 08:42

55 min: Kane mooches in from the left. No options. He decides to get a shot away, but drags it wide left.

8.40am EDT 08:40

53 min: A little bit of space for Roberts, 25 yards out. He screws a poor shot wide left and claims a free kick, having been clipped from behind by Bale, but the referee isn’t interested.

8.38am EDT 08:38

51 min: Harrison crosses from the left to win a Leeds corner. Dallas takes. Lloris flaps it away at the far post, allowing Son to break. Koch cynically trips him, and it’s the first yellow card of the afternoon.

8.37am EDT 08:37

49 min: Kane has the ball in the net again, and up pops the flag once more. There’s no need for the old VAR rulers here, as he’s sent free down the left channel, six yards off, and he rounds Meslier before whipping home just for practice.

8.35am EDT 08:35

48 min: Son drops a shoulder and gets the better of Dallas down the left, but nearly runs the ball out for a goal kick, and his desperate last-ditch cross is easily snaffled by Meslier.

8.33am EDT 08:33

46 min: Spurs ship possession with indecent haste, allowing Alioski to scamper down the left yet again. Dier deals with the resulting cross, but that’s not exactly the statement start to the second half by the visitors, who need a couple of goals if they’re to keep their top-four dream alive.

8.18am EDT 08:18

HALF TIME: Leeds United 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur

The hosts deservedly lead at the break, though Dele Alli has done his best to keep the visitors on terms. It’s been great fun. Tottenham’s slim hopes of a top-four finish are in a little bit of jeopardy right now.

8.16am EDT 08:16

45 min: There will be one added minute. This game has barely stopped.

8.15am EDT 08:15

44 min: Leeds, for the first time since the get-go, slow things down a little, with half time in sight.

8.14am EDT 08:14

43 min: All three goals, for differing reasons, have been right out of the top drawer. This has been a wonderfully entertaining half of football. More, please!

8.13am EDT 08:13

GOAL! Leeds United 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur (Bamford 42)

This is such a lovely team goal. Dallas picks up a loose Dier header down the right and drives infield. Roberts gets involved as Dallas is clipped. The referee waves play on. Harrison slips Alioski into space down the left. Alioski crosses low, and Bamford can’t miss from six yards.

Patrick Bamford puts Leeds ahead for the second time. Photograph: Mark Robinson/NMC Pool Then celebrates with Ezgjan Aliosk as Giovani Lo Celso of Tottenham Hotspur looks dejected. Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Pool/Getty Images Harry Kane and the Spurs players look dejected after the second Leeds goal. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/NMC Pool/The Guardian

Updated at 10.44am EDT

8.11am EDT 08:11

40 min: Harrison and Alioski combine smoothly down the left. Harrison caresses a cross with the outside of his boot. It’s only a couple of inches over Bamford’s head. Goal kick.

8.09am EDT 08:09

38 min: Alli snaffles a loose ball and launches another charge, laying off for Son, who finds Kane. The England captain over-elaborates and the move fizzles out, but at the risk of belabouring the point, this is really impressive stuff from Alli.

Updated at 8.39am EDT

8.07am EDT 08:07

36 min: Alli is here, there and everywhere, offering Tottenham’s otherwise ponderous midfield some much-needed energy. One superb assist already, plus a millimetre away from another. He looks bang on top of his game again, which is lovely to see.

8.05am EDT 08:05

34 min: So now it’s a corner on the left. Koch aims a header towards the top left. The ball skims off Bale’s noggin, and out for another corner, which Spurs make a meal of clearing, but do so eventually.

8.03am EDT 08:03

33 min: This is a great game. Dallas fizzes one in from the right. Roberts misses the chance to trundle it home by inches, then the ball clanks off Aurier before being cleared in the hectic style.

8.03am EDT 08:03

32 min: VAR checks, and though Kane looked yards offside to the naked eye – and Spurs don’t complain – it’s very close indeed. The decision stands, but only by a millimetre or two.

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