Leeds United 1-0 Hull City: Always There
Waiting for the ball to cross the line was agony, waiting for Christiansen to turn results around was agony, trudging to a half-empty football ground season after season has been agony. Ecstasy was always there somewhere, though.
Pablo Hernandez chipped Alan McGregor, and it was agony at the northern end of the ground, watching the ball to see where it would drop — in the net, or in among the scarves in the South Stand.
It would have been better to watch Pablo. He started celebrating as soon as the ball left his foot, and what a feeling that must be — to know that you've done this exactly right, and can kiss your arms and slide in front of the fans while the ball is still travelling over the line. Feliz Navidad, Pablo.
The goal was an example of everything that was good about Leeds against Hull City, and much of what has been good about Leeds this season: effort and commitment from Kemar Roofe, who has often only been on the fringes of the first team, closing down space for Hull's defenders and goalkeeper, forcing a mistake that put the ball at Pablo's feet; and sublime skill from an outrageous talent, beauty aligned with brawn.
We only had that one moment of sublimity to enjoy, because Samu Saiz wasn't playing, and for the first half an hour, Leeds United played without him the way I felt without him — there was an aching, sorry gap in my heart that only the Napoleonic genius could fill, and a gap on the pitch, too. Admittedly, Hull had a lot to do with it, fired up from the start of the game and threatening our goal within the first minute, and for many of the next ninety.