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March has been a good month for Leeds but April is when we really need to kick on

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Image for March has been a good month for Leeds but April is when we really need to kick on

With the season coming to a close Leeds are still occupying a place in the Championship Play-Off’s, something they’ve held for twenty-one consecutive games. We look back on the month of March as well as looking ahead to a month which will see us play seven games and ultimately define our season.




Looking back: March
At a time when Leeds needed to get back on form, they duly responded. An unbeaten month was just what Garry Monk’s squad needed and they responded duly. There’s no doubting there were some tough fixtures included as well, including the away tie against a strong-looking Fulham team and a home game against promotion-chasing Brighton & Hove Albion. Two wins and two draws, 8 points out of a possible 12, 6 goals scored and just 2 goals conceded.

Birmingham 1-3 Leeds
Chris Wood grabbed the opener with a classy chip after a great through-ball by Luke Ayling. Birmingham hit back in the second half after Leeds had to take a lot of pressure from the home side, Craig Gardner’s deflected effort finding a way into the bottom corner. Leeds retook the lead almost immediately after. Kalvin Phillips’ brilliant cameo performance included an assist as Wood scored his 22nd goal of the season. Alfonso Pedraza completed the scoring with a tidy finish after some nice play from Leeds. A brilliant three points away from Elland Road and a great way to start the month.

Fulham 1-1 Leeds
The game of the month that I was most worried about. My nerves were calmed very early on thanks to a Tim Ream own goal. Fulham were always going to dominate possession and should’ve had an equaliser but a great effort which crashed against the crossbar and over the line wasn’t given as a goal. Pedraza should’ve doubled Leeds’ lead and sealed the points but his effort came back off the near post. When the equaliser came it was gut-wrenching, Leeds had held Fulham out for 94 minutes but there was nothing Rob Green could’ve done to prevent Tom Cairney’s wonder goal. A tough result to take but before the game I think everyone would’ve been happy with the point.

Leeds 0-0 QPR
The worst result of the lot although you can’t deny the effort, we just didn’t have enough quality to break QPR down. Their 5 at the back was perfect and they were able to counter at will. They could’ve even took the points but for a great save from Rob Green to deny Conor Washington, it was a good way for Green to celebrate his 600th career appearance, keeping a clean sheet but Leeds will be disappointed they didn’t manage to take all three points.

Leeds 2-0 Brighton
Chris Wood’s 23rd and 24th goals of the season helped Leeds to a 2-0 victory over Brighton and what a performance it was, from start to finish Leeds wanted it more than the opposition. Wood had a great chance to take the lead just before Wood’s opener but he snatched at an effort when he had more time than he thought. The goal did come after a great cross from Charlie Taylor, Wood was back-peddling but his header looped into the corner past David Stockdale. Souleymane Doukara then showed great footwork to win a penalty which Wood smashed straight down the middle. One of the best home atmospheres in years which certainly carried the players over the line, Leeds thoroughly deserved the points.



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