West Bromwich Albion lasted longer than they did on their last visit to Elland Road on the first day of March, but not by much.
Pablo Hernandez hooked Leeds United up to the mains after 16 seconds in 2019, jump-starting one of the finest evenings of Marcelo Bielsa’s tenure. West Brom held out until the ninth minute on Saturday, but things played out very differently from there on in.
Six years ago, it was third hosting fourth, with a blockbuster 4-0 home win that served as the ideal tonic at a difficult point of the season for Leeds. Back then, they were trying to keep pace with Daniel Farke’s Norwich City and Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United, three days after an off day at lowly Queens Park Rangers.
2025’s game was supposed to be the latest in a procession to glory at Home Park on the final afternoon of the season, but instead it turned into one of those off days. They have been rare this season, but after the riotous ecstasy of the last two matches, perhaps this was an understandably human reaction from the Leeds squad.
The adrenaline, momentum and confidence generated by those last-gasp wins were on show in the opening 20 minutes of this encounter. Junior Firpo and Daniel James combined again to deliver the opener. That was James’s 19th goal contribution of the season and, as of full time, Joel Piroe was the only player in the division with more (21).
James has five assists in his last six Championship appearances (George Wood/Getty Images)
The left-back’s run to head home from eight yards in open play was symptomatic of the freedom Farke gives him, but also the belief the entire team has been playing with. They almost felt invincible and Firpo was guilty of being out of position when West Brom had their first chance inside seven minutes. Isaac Price, freed of Firpo’s shackles, was able to gallop down the right before squaring for an unmarked John Swift to roll inches wide.
After the game, Farke spoke of the humbling he could see coming. “We allowed ourselves to, perhaps, enjoy ourselves a little bit too much. We always went too much for the most complicated pass, instead of the pragmatic pass.
“We went into the duels perhaps just 98 per cent and not 100 per cent and then a good side like West Brom is able to get a foot back into the door. You could see it coming because we didn’t fight like in the games before, with a knife between the teeth and really concentrated to be there with a tidy pass.”
Darnell Furlong would eventually produce the equaliser Tony Mowbray’s side deserved and Leeds struggled to get back to the level they showed in the opening quarter. It was what they hope will be a blip in what remains an outstanding season. Their unbeaten run was extended to 17 games and their league lead was, temporarily, extended to six points before Wilder’s side cut it to three at Queens Park Rangers later in the afternoon.
Darnell Furlong celebrates West Brom’s equaliser (George Wood/Getty Images)
There should be some benefits to being taken down a peg or two. Not only did Leeds add a point to their tally while learning a lesson, this was also a helpful reminder they cannot afford to be complacent, even as they face a variety of teams sat outside the top 10. Bristol City and Middlesbrough are the only clubs inside the current top 10 left to play Leeds this season.
Blips can happen. Leeds have put so many sides to the sword they have built a points tally which can tolerate the odd draw or even, whisper it, a loss. Just six wins from the remaining 11 matches would take them to 94 points, which would have you in the automatic promotion equation in most Championship seasons.
Leeds’ current points-per-game rate would take them to within a hair’s breadth of 100 points, which should calm any nervous stirrings in your gut. Leicester City only won six of their final 14 matches last season and still lifted the title in May. Again, it’s an extreme example, but it’s a soothing reminder champions drop points in this division.
Leeds supporters will not need reminding of the meltdowns this club has been capable of in the past. Last season, after a 15-match unbeaten streak, Farke’s Leeds collapsed to four losses in their final six before an ill-fated Wembley trip in the play-offs. Meanwhile in that 2018-19 campaign with Bielsa, Leeds only won three of their last nine games.
It’s too early to say what this draw may lead to, but none of the omens feel too foreboding at this point. The squad remains in good health, with a deep bench full of attacking strength. The fixtures are appealing too. The start of this game was full of promise until Farke’s hubris theory set in. It may just be the little jab in the ribs they needed to stay awake, as their manager likes to say, for the trip to Fratton Park next weekend.
(Header photo: George Wood/Getty Images)
