'I was at Elland Road': Journalist names the only Leeds man he heard get booed after their last home game

By Sam Preston

Journalist Rory Smith feels that the reception Jesse Marsch got after Leeds United’s last home game was ‘harsh’.

The landscape has changed somewhat for the American after he masterminded Satruday night’s dramatic late win at Anfield.

But before that, Marsch saw his side beaten 3-2 by Fulham the last time his side played at Elland Road, and their last home win was in August.

Smith told the BBC’s Monday Night Club that the fans had applause for the players but boos for Marsch, who recently admitted he had just four games to save his job.

Smith on Marsch

Smith said: “I was at Elland Road for the Fulham game when Leeds played well for about half of it and lost 3-2.

“At the end it was very interesting.

“The players went to all four corners applauding and Brenden Aaronson went around apologising as if it was all his fault personally – which I thought was a bit harsh.

“But they all got clapped.

“When Marsch went with them they started to boo.

“That was the level Elland Road was at beforehand. It’s probably quite a harsh judgement.”

Marsch should have bought himself a bit of time and credit with the performance and result at the weekend, grabbing three hugely important points.

Leeds are back at home this weekend when they host Bournemouth and it will be interesting to see what kind of reception he gets after that one.

If they win, it’s six points from six available in the last two, and some momentum would be building, pushing them up the table.

But anything less, against a side many Whites fans would expect them to beat could see the heat come back onto Marsch, even though Saturday’s result showed plenty of reasons to stick with him.