It took only 15 minutes in Bedfordshire for the Luton supporters to begin their first rendition of ‘Leeds are falling apart again’ and though their side couldn’t hold onto the three points in their bid for survival, they inflicted another huge blow on Leeds’ automatic promotion hopes.
Dan James equalised after Isaiah Jones gave the home side an early lead but Daniel Farke’s side dropped more points and by the time the full time whistle went, Leeds were leapfrogged by Burnley into the automatic promotion spots.
With Sheffield United in action later today, things could go from bad to worse for Leeds, who have just seven points from their last possible 18.
Going into this lunchtime clash in the spring sunshine, 21 places separated the two sides but for most of the game, it was hard to figure which team was in the race for the Premier League and which team was bidding for Championship survival.
Matt Bloomfield’s Luton were brilliant and a point here made it just one defeat in six for them as they improved their prospects of escaping relegation. In fairness, this was the kind of display that left you thinking how they are even in a relegation battle.
Dan James scored a brilliant goal to spare Leeds United’s blushes as they dropped two points
Relegation-threatened Luton Town took a shock lead to stun promotion-chasing Leeds
For Leeds, this draw made it one win in their last six since coming from behind to beat fellow promotion chasers Sheffield United in February.
Promotion looked all but a certainty that night at Bramall Lane but Farke’s side are now flirting dangerously with the play-offs.
Just 60 miles from Kenilworth Road, Burnley’s comeback victory at Coventry meant that Scott Parker’s side now have a two-point advantage on them and with Leeds’s woeful record in the play-offs, these are turning into desperate times.
It isn’t out of their hands yet, with Burnley and Sheffield United going head-to-head on Easter Monday and Leeds arguably having the more favourable of run-ins but right now, they are struggling to win football matches, regardless of the opposition.
In the aftermath of their draw to Swansea last week, Farke rang in the changes with Junior Firpo, Ao Tanaka and Willy Gnonto coming in alongside Karl Darlow, who replaced Illan Meslier in goal after the French keeper was dropped.
For Luton, Bloomfield made just one change from the side that claimed a crucial win at Hull, with Jones coming in for Reece Burke and it proved to be an inspired call.
Leeds started strongly, with Thomas Kaminski forced to make saves from Junior Firpo and Manor Solomon but just 15 minutes in, Luton had the lead.
Elijah Adebayo did well down the left flank and played in Jordan Clark, who found Jones with his cross and the wing-back volleyed in with aplomb from close range.
Luton Town frustrated Leeds for the most part but will be disappointed with James’ goal
Leeds have now handed advantage to Burnley, who beat Coventry City, and Sheffield United
The visitors hit back and levelled 13 minutes later through a moment of brilliance from Dan James, who picked up the ball on the edge of the box from a Leeds corner and curled in a wonderful left-footed strike past Kaminski.
Neither manager made any changes at the break but four minutes into the second half, Adebayo was forced off due to injury and on came Tahith Chong.
Thelo Asgaard then came close to restoring Luton’s advantage but Darlow made a good stop as Luton sensed that Leeds were there for the taking.
Such was the desperation and physical nature of the contest that just after the hour mark, Farke threw on Patrick Bamford, who hasn’t scored all season, in place of Gnonto for his first appearance since January after a hamstring injury.
Bamford came close to getting a winner when James found him on the counter but his effort was kept out by Kaminski.
Leeds upped the urgency towards the latter stages with James doing superbly to tee up Manor Solomon, who inexplicably blazed over from a few yards out.
Solomon sat on the floor in disbelief. He couldn’t believe it and neither could the thousand or so Leeds fans behind the goal.
Their side fell apart at the end of last season and unless they can return to winning ways, history looks to be repeating itself again.
