Premier League 2 Division 2
West Bromwich Albion 2 (Love 13’, Sule 80’)
Leeds United 1 (Perkins 23’)
WBA: Hollingshead (GK), Hall (Sule 54’), Humphries, Whitwell, Nguepissi, Harper-Bailey, Ingram, Andrews (Mfuamba 54’), Love, Richards, Heard. Subs not used: Cisse, Mohammed, Williams.
Leeds: van den Heuvel (GK), Spencer (Thomas 88’), Mullen, Monteiro, Moore, Gyabi, Allen, Gray, Joseph, Perkins, McGurk (Crew 87’). Subs not used: Christy, Ferguson, Debayo.
Venue: WBA Training Ground
Referee: Aji Ajibola
Booked: Heard, Mfuamba (WBA) McGurk, Moore (Leeds)
Leeds United Under-21s were defeated away at West Bromwich Albion Under-21s on Friday afternoon, meaning they now head into the play-offs at the end of the Premier League 2 Division 2 campaign.
Paco Gallardo’s side needed a point from the match to be crowned champions and would have been promoted to Division 1 with that result. After losing, it means Southampton have claimed the title and promotion on goal-difference.
Despite heavy wind impacting on the match for both sides in the West Midlands, Leeds got off to a strong start. Mateo Joseph, Archie Gray and Charlie Allen all had chances on goal early on but couldn’t convert.
With their first chance of the game, the Baggies took the lead. Fenton Heard had the initial opportunity, but he struck the foot of the post, allowing the alert Layton Love to fire home the rebound and put his side ahead.
The equaliser wouldn’t be too long in coming though. Sean McGurk and Allen linked up well to create an opening, with the ball arriving at the feet of Sonny Perkins, who battled through bodies to strike low into the bottom corner.
In a half that Gallardo’s side had been strong in, further chances kept coming as the Whites searched for a way ahead. Ronnie Hollingshead had to be alert between the posts, diving to his right to keep out a powerful McGurk strike.
Down the opposite end, after causing problems earlier in the half for the home side, Heard once again had a good opportunity but fired over the bar in a let-off for Leeds.
There was one final opportunity before the interval and it went to the visitors. A long ball over the top was met and controlled well by Joseph, only for the striker to misjudge his effort and strike well over the bar when well placed.
In a hard-fought and tense opening 45 minutes, the teams went in level at the break despite having several chances in front of goal.
HALF TIME: West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Leeds United
The same way in which Leeds had ended the first half, they began the second, with a good opening. This one was for Perkins, but he couldn’t extend his tally for the match by blazing over the bar.
In goal for the Baggies, Hollingshead was continuing his impressive outing. At full stretch, the ‘keeper brilliantly turned behind Gray’s low effort after the midfielder had tricked his way into the box and shot on goal.
Down the opposite end, Dani van den Heuvel had work to do as well, seeing two efforts come at him. The first was flicked wide by Love with a close ranger header, before moments later Ethan Ingram forced the stopper to make a strong save.
Van den Heuvel was then called into action again moments later when he denied Rico Richards, but the ‘keeper could do nothing about the next one, as Eseosa Sule’s thunderous low effort found the bottom corner and put WBA ahead again.
Into the final 10 minutes, Leeds made a double change to add fresh legs into the match. Charlie Crew and Luca Thomas came on for McGurk and Morten Spencer.
Both players were involved in the build-up to the final two chances, which went the way of Leeds. Joseph saw another strike well saved, before agonisingly, Diogo Monteiro struck the crossbar in the final seconds from a corner.
The full-time whistle sounded and brought the regular season to a close, meaning the Whites will now face Aston Villa in the play-offs. West Brom will also compete in them after finishing fourth in the standings - they will take on Nottingham Forest.
FULL TIME: West Bromwich Albion 2-1 Leeds United
