You can tell Leeds United – unbeaten now in their last 17 Championship matches but held at home to West Brom on Saturday’s early kick-off – are not used to dropping points.
Because while Joe Rothwell and goalscorer Junior Firpo were content enough with a point which moved Leeds United eight clear of Sheffield United before The Blades’ 3pm kick-off, there was a hint of bitterness as both players shared post-match duties on Sky Sports.
Junior Firpo was labelled ‘world-class’ by the Spanish press after he set Leeds on their way to Monday’s 3-1 win at title rivals Sheffield United. The in-form left-back was on the scoresheet again five days later. Firpo converted a wonderful Dan James delivery after finding himself in the centre of the box.
But, just before the break, Darnell Furlong channelled his inner-Ao Tanaka as West Brom drew level. Just like Tanaka at Bramall Lane, Furlong pulled to the back post and looped an inch-perfect header into the far corner.
Junior Firpo and Joe Rothwell aim West Brom dig after Leeds United draw
The home side ended the game with 15 shots to West Brom’s seven. They had more possession too – as expected – even if a total of 54 per cent was well down from their seasonal average of 60.
Leeds certainly came the closest to securing all three points, with West Brom sitting deep and looking to soak up the pressure. Substitute Mateo Joseph clipped the bar after a brilliant solo run while James blazed narrowly over in stoppage time.
Both Firpo and Rothwell could not resist a little dig in the ribs of their well-drilled visitors meanwhile, their frustration arising from Leeds’ inability to break down Tony Mowbray’s tight-knit backline.
“It’s not the result that we wanted,” Firpo admits, Leeds seemingly on their way to another procession when the former Barcelona man opened the scoring with just nine minutes on the clock. “We fought hard and started really quickly and then we fell down a little bit.
“Second half, there was one team trying to get the win.”
“It is a positive point but there was only one team trying to win the game,” Rothwell agrees, parroting FIrpo almost word for word. “We’ve given ourselves that belief in the last few games. We will try and score right up until the buzzer.”
Junior Firpo explains scoring run as he nets in successive Championship games
After Pascal Struijk’s late brace at home to Sunderland a fortnight ago, and those dramatic Tanaka and Joel Piroe strikes at Bramall Lane, Leeds were hoping for a third successive win secured via last-gasp interventions in ‘Farke Time’.
There would be no repeat here, however.
“A point is a point and I think we will take it,” Firpo adds, before explaining the tactical shift that has enabled him to score in consecutive games. “I’m just trying to get into the box and, happily, I could score again.
“Obviously, we have played some amazing football lately. Especially at home. We have been winning comfortably. Today, we faced a really good team. We will take the point.”
Rothwell, meanwhile, was delighted to force his way into Farke’s XI for the first time since that 7-0 destruction of Cardiff City. The Bournemouth loanee set up both of Struijk’s goals against Sunderland off the bench while also helping to turn the tide in Leeds’ favour in the Steel City.
A first start in five, Rothwell believes, was his ‘reward’ for a couple of eye-catching cameos.
“I enjoyed it,” the midfielder says. “I tried to make an impact [in my recent substitute appearances]. I got my rewards with a start.
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