“Job done” for Leeds as they scrape past Harrogate in cup: Yorkshire Football Roundup

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Lee Sobot reviews Leeds United against Harrogate Town in the FA Cup.

Transcript

00:01Job done, I think, just. Well, it was job done. Leeds United are into the fourth round.

00:06Hat for the FA Cup fourth round draw. But my words, that was not an uncomfortable ride this evening

00:12as Daniel Fax-White recorded a 1-0 victory against Simon Weaver's Harrogate Townside,

00:17League 2 Harrogate Town, who came here fourth bottom in League 2.

00:21Lots of places between the two sides in the EFL ladder.

00:26And I think a lot of talk before the game, obviously, was how many leads might score here, etc., etc.,

00:31especially when you saw the 11 and bench. But in the end, one goal proved enough,

00:36just one goal seeing Daniel Farkside through. And the only thing to start with to say here

00:42is massive, massive credit to Harrogate Town, who gave a superb account of themselves.

00:46And I mean, I've not seen what Simon Weaver said yet, but whether he ends up thinking they're unlucky,

00:52I don't know. But they certainly had their chances. And there's no doubt that they caused Leeds some scares.

00:56And definitely, definitely very, very early in the game when Joshua Ghiafoghi took out,

01:02took down March, which looked like a penalty to all us lot in the stands anyway.

01:06And I think if there was VAR, that might have been interesting.

01:09That was definitely one big scare survived. There were lots of other ones as well.

01:12Attacks in the second half, lots of balls into the box that Leeds had to deal with.

01:16Caldallo had a solid night between the sticks, which was needed.

01:20And in the end, yeah, just very, very uncomfortable, really, with one goal still proving the deficit

01:24right up to the very, very end. And even in the 94th minute, one late Harrogate Town free kick.

01:28Goalkeeper went up for that. I mean, we all looked at each other then and thought,

01:31are we going to wait for extra time here? But ultimately, Leeds survived it clear,

01:34didn't score on the counter when the keeper was stranded. But one goal proved enough.

01:38And that one goal was scored by Largi Ramazzani. I mean, you know, obviously,

01:42eight changes were made by Daniel Farker this evening. But when you're bringing in players like that,

01:47it's hardly a weak team, mulling on to another one to come in as well.

01:51And Ramazzani got the only goal of the game just before the hour mark.

01:55A very, very simple finish, a headed finish from very, very close range.

01:58Goal made by Manna Solomon, who I think was probably just about Leeds United's brightest spark this evening,

02:02certainly from an attacking sense anyway. You would definitely hope that that would be the case,

02:06obviously, against a League Two side. And that's no disrespect to Harrogate Town.

02:09But obviously, you know, there should be a big golfing class between these two sides.

02:13And I suppose in the end, finishing really an attacking player was the difference.

02:16But one goal is the only difference in the scoreline.

02:19And really, the only takeaway you can take from this evening is basically that it's job done.

02:23And as I say, they are into the fourth round draw.

02:26Look, everybody knows the promotion to the Premier League is this season's priority.

02:30By a million miles, that's the priority. Of course, it is.

02:33If Leeds can have a cup run at the same time, then great, as long as it doesn't distract the league form.

02:37They should have a big enough squad to be able to do both and get a bit of a run going.

02:41As I say, they're into the hat. The other thing tonight to really take away from it is

02:45the injury returns, two players coming back, two big players coming back.

02:48Junior Firpo, who's obviously been out of his hamstring injury.

02:51He came on as a second half sub. Huge cheers as he came on.

02:54And Ilya Gruev, who has obviously been out even longer after knee surgery.

02:57He was on as well. I think it was the 89th minute. Big cheers.

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