“What on Earth” – Jermaine Beckford reacts to huge Leeds United moment in Coventry defeat
Leeds knew they would be up against possibly their hardest match of the season when they took on Coventry City, a team vying for a spot in the playoffs.
Leeds was given a fantastic opportunity when Ipswich Town lost their match against Norwich City in the early kickoff, but Leeds failed to take advantage of it.
Coventry City 2-1 Leeds United: Sky Blues deserve key win
After just nine minutes, the score was finally broken, and it was a well-earned first goal for the home team. Ellis Simms, who was onside and unmarked, beat Illan Meslier to the ball and headed home after a corner to the back post was headed back into the goalmouth.
Throughout the first half, Mark Robins’ team physically dominated Leeds from front to back, and Patrick Bamford was bullied out of opportunities, including a dangerous cross from Junior Firpo along the six-yard box, which left Leeds lucky not to go behind by two.
After a quick counterattack in the second half, Josh Eccles’ spectacular cross found an unguarded Haji Wright at the back post, who scored with a cushion. This was Coventry’s second goal of the match.
Leeds’ substitutions helped shift the momentum as the home team sat back and soaked up pressure. Joel Piroe scored a goal to cut the deficit in half, but the Dutchman missed a golden opportunity to score deep into added time, sending a meek shot straight at the custodian when it appeared easier to score.
Leeds suffers its first league loss in full time since late 2023.
Jermaine Beckford reacts to Piroe chance missed
Speaking during LUTV’s broadcast of the game, former Leeds player Jermaine Beckford expressed his disbelief that Piroe missed the equaliser after scoring a great goal to put Leeds ahead 2-1.
He said this:
“Wasteful finishing cost us ultimately.
“We had two great opportunities, Joel Piroe as well, came on and scored a brilliant goal, great composure in front of goal.
“And then his second opportunity, he almost snatched at it, couldn’t make the right contact, not the right connection with it, and that was quite surprising.
“When we were in the studio I was thinking ‘What on Earth has just happened here? It must have been a tackle’.
“It’s just one of those things, it’s an opportunity lost especially with Leicester winning and Ipswich dropping points as well.”
Piroe can’t be the scapegoat today
Although Piroe is aware that he ought to have scored that late goal, his contribution coming off the bench actually provided us a chance to win a game that we didn’t deserve to.
During his brief time on the pitch, he displayed excellent movement in a crowded Coventry box and handled his goal exceptionally well.
Before Piroe performed what he did, we should have lost because Leeds was behind 2-0 and would have needed a minor miracle to win the game.
