I was worried about this match, albeit WHU fans were calling on Moyes to play a weakened team & keep their powder dry for the weekend game. Whether they had a sickness bug running through the squad or not, tonight felt like a game that neither side could be arsed with, but needed to fulfil.
We were sub-par by our standards in a forgettable first half. WHU played very narrow & compact & squeezed the space centrally around our forward line & attacking midfielders. We were painfully slow in our build up which gave the Hammers the chance to settle & become comfortable in the match.
In the second we came out with a little more purpose, & I was fuckin relieved when Aké scored with a brilliant header from a set piece. This settled us down & forced WHU to come out & play, albeit cautiously.
Haaland took his goal brilliantly & it was an emotional moment when he became the record PL scorer & is now only 12 behind the legendary Dixie Dean. What a fuckin player to achieve this in his first season in the Prem at the age of 22! I loved that impromptu guard of honour for him at the end & he's STILL absolutely buzzing about it! :-)
WHU kept plugging away, but we seemed comfortable just controlling the match & hitting them on the break. Foden took his goal well & sealed the win & the vital three points.
1000 goals scored under Baldy with the nearest manager achieving the same feat in 150 games more! We're smashing record after record, but for me the CL is the priority this season, so we must continue to take it one game at a time.
None of our players really stood out, so I'll give my MoTM to the whole team.
Trust us to be Fat Sam's first victims as Leeds manager! I wish them luck AFTER our match, so roll on Saturday!
