Leeds United fans will always remember this moment of Joe Gelhardt magic: View
- Leeds United was relegated in the 2022–2023 season following a close call the previous year.With Gelhardt’s outstanding aid, Leeds was able to gain a vital point for their Premier League survival in 2021–2022.Gelhardt had a fantastic 2021–2022 season, but that relegation campaign at Leeds did not go as planned for his career.
After being demoted to the Championship at the conclusion of the previous campaign, Leeds United is again vying for a return to the Premier League.
With just 31 points, the Yorkshire team finished five points outside of safety and was demoted along with Leicester City and Southampton. In an attempt to prevent relegation, the Whites appointed Sam Allardyce with four Premier League games remaining; however, the former West Ham and Bolton Wanderers
The Whites supporters, who finished in ninth place in the 2020–21 Premier League season, will wish to forget about the 2022–23 campaign because their three-year reign in the top division ended after just three seasons.
A more successful season finale than the previous one occurred in 2021–2022, when the Whites narrowly avoided relegation by winning 2-1 against Brentford on the final day, thanks to a Jack Harrison goal in the 94th minute.
Fans of the Whites will never look back on the season that followed the spectacular 20/21 campaign with any nostalgia, but those who were present at Brentford on that fateful day will always remember their team’s incredible comeback.
The Whites made a valiant last-minute equaliser as part of their survival fight.
Gelhardt’s moment of magic helped Leeds achieve Premier League survival
Pascal Struijk scored Leeds’ equaliser against the Seagulls with a header, but Gelhardt’s build-up play was fantastic.
The game began with the ace bringing the ball down nicely with a sophisticated first touch. Then, in an incredible display of skill, he overcame seasoned defender Lewis Dunk, leaving him defenceless on the ground as Gelhardt flicked the ball over him.
Following a man-down, the attacker found the unmarked Struijk at the back post. Struijk duly obliged, nodding the ball home to give the Whites a vital point in their fight to survive in the Premier League.
Gelhardt provided an incredible assist that the Elland Road supporters will always remember. The point the Whites earned that day lifted them out of the relegation zone and put them in a good position to survive if they defeated Brentford the following weekend.
| Joe Gelhardt 2021/22 Premier League stats, according to FotMob | |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 20 |
| Starts | 5 |
| Goals | 2 |
| Assists | 2 |
The Whites proceeded to guarantee their place in the Premier League in West London, but this achievement might not have been feasible if Gelhardt’s valiant performance at Elland Road had not gained them a point and the momentum that went along with it.
Gelhardt’s career hasn’t quite kicked on
The forward proved he has enough of talent with his 21/22 Premier League exploits, which also secured the Whites a second straight season in the top division.
Gelhardt only made 15 appearances, including one start, before being loaned out to Sunderland in January 2023. Nevertheless, the Elland Road team did not take advantage of this, as they were relegated the next season.
With 18 games, including 16 starts, the prodigy was given more opportunities at the Stadium of Light than he was at his parent club at the time. During his tenure in the northeast, Gelhardt led the Black Cats to a play-off position with three goals and three assists.
The forward appeared for 64 minutes when the Hatters won the second leg 2-0 at Kenilworth Road, but he played the entire ninety minutes as the Black Cats overcame Luton Town 2-1 in the play-off semi-final first leg.
After defeating Coventry City on penalties shootouts, the Hatters advanced to Wembley and the Premier League, claiming one of the spaces Leeds had left empty at the end of the 22–23 season.
