“What on Earth” – Jermaine Beckford reacts to huge Leeds United moment in Coventry defeat

Leeds United fell to defeat in the Championship for the first time in 2024 as Coventry edged out a 2-1 win despite the Whites’ late chances to snatch an undeserved draw.

Coming into a clash against playoff chasers Coventry City, Leeds knew they faced arguably their toughest fixture left of the season.

Ipswich Town losing their clash with Norwich City in the early kickoff handed a great opportunity to Leeds, but it wasn’t taken.

It only took nine minutes for the deadlock to be broken and it was a deserved opener for the home side, as a corner to the back post was headed back into the goalmouth, then into the path of an unmarked and onside Ellis Simms, who beat Illan Meslier to the ball and headed home.

Leeds in the entire first half were lucky not to be two down as Mark Robins’ side physically dominated the match from front to back, with Patrick Bamford bullied out of openings, including being marshalled away from a dangerous Junior Firpo cross along the six-yard box.

A swift counter in the second half brought Coventry’s second of the game when Josh Eccles’ super cross found an unmarked Haji Wright at the back post, who cushioned home.

Subs for Leeds helped change the impetus as the home side sat off and soaked up pressure, with Joel Piroe brushing home a goal to half the deficit, but a golden chance deep in added time couldn’t be converted by the Dutchman, hitting a tame effort straight at the goalkeeper when it looked easier to score.

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.”