Leeds United’s exorcism showed that sentiment is never guaranteed as Dallas’ action points to the next exit

Could any of your handwritten scripts have put Leeds United anywhere realistically close to the level they reached on Thursday night? For those of you who slept a little, it must have felt like a fever dream when you woke up.

All that pressure, doubt, scar-ripping scarves of 2019, worry about Illan Meslier’s passing, Junior Firpo’s breakdowns, Glen Kamara’s absence, Georginio Rutter’s disappearing act and Joel Piroe’s anonymity evaporated in 45 minutes without breath.

Every player to a man was huge, at the top of their game and brought something to the party. If a man in white didn’t dribble past an opponent or create a chance, he won the ball back and dribbled 50-50. He was relentless in every department of the field.

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This was an exorcism. This was the spring evening that Marcelo Bielsa was supposed to have. Sixteen years of waiting felt like a heavier weight that night than the year of Thursday night’s discomfort. The pain of 2019 and the frustrating laws of 2020 have been rolled into this joy at Elland Road.

Even Illan Meslier, on a night of total one-way dominance, had a moment to stand. This was probably the biggest flashpoint of the night. A 2-1 deficit with barely a quarter of the game to go would have been enough to tip the tide in Norwich City’s favour.

United’s class could very well have shone through, but anyone with experience of watching Leeds and this competition would not have wanted to tempt fate in any way. The boot started on the neck and had to stay there until at least the fourth entered.

Archie Gray has delivered another chapter in the fascinating diary of a teenager we’ve been treated to this season. Composure, strength, pace, vision, technique and decision-making were something in a heated atmosphere like this.

Joe Rodon set the tone from the start with forward raids from defense that took the game by the scruff of the neck. As the midfielders bustled with the ball in the Norwich half, Rodon was only too happy to be assertive and take control.

You had Junior Firpo feeding off the confidence around him. This was a night without those painful defensive deficiencies, but many of those attributes that make him a valuable fifth forward in this system. The presence of mind to selflessly throw the ball back to Crysencio Summerville for the fourth goal was extraordinary.

Ilia Gruev, a first goal for the Whites, of course, on this of all nights, followed by the best version of the destructive tandem that he and Glen Kamara have operated in the engine room this season. The latter was a tireless pest who made Kenny McLean and Marcelino Nunez regret even thinking they could win this midfield battle.

Georginio Rutter and Joel Piroe were the revelations of the evening. These were two points of attack that had been mocked for weeks and yet here they were, purring. Rutter was back to the creative ball of fun we’ve seen so much of this season, but Piroe was on a new level.

The Dutch striker has never consistently shown that he fits Farke’s side, either as a centre-forward or as a second striker. He looked the outright leader in this second leg. Piroe ran the channels, got past defenders, turned markers, fed teammates, attacked the box, went into service and most importantly, scored.

Time for so many players at the right time

The back end of the season proved to be a loss of confidence for so many players on this team. Momentum was lost with each poor result as automatic promotion finally slipped from United’s grasp.

The sting in the tail was the same poor dynamic that would then take Leeds into the play-offs, where their 90-point season didn’t count for nothing. Sunday was less of a step forward and more of a slide into neutral from the reverse gear Leeds were in.

On Thursday he went through the ratio and went fourth with fifth and sixth gear in reserve. This second leg was more than just progress at Wembley, victory mode will give those players, lacking in confidence, what they need ahead of the final.

Meslier’s save and another free, Kamara’s midfield dominance, Rutter’s goal and Piroe’s revival. Four players with major question marks hanging over them who can now prepare for Wembley with only renewed confidence in their abilities.

Cooper writes on the wall

Farke was never going to confirm anything before the end of the season, but all signs pointed to Liam Cooper saying goodbye to Elland Road. There will be a time for proper pieces in his service for United, but the crowd recognized more than his service on Thursday.

The 32-year-old was out of contract this summer, with no sign of new terms so far. After eight league starts all season, promotion or not, Cooper can’t expect that number to increase under Farke.

If offered a new deal, would he like to spend the few years left in his career as a minor player, or does he want to go play at a good level, with skin in the game, as long as possible may be? It will be a shame if he leaves before reaching his 10th birthday and an official testimonial with the Whites, but this is football and he has enough experience to know that the sport doesn’t promise feelings to anyone.

There were the kisses to the crowd as he trotted out to warm up and then the pointed tour of the pitch with his family after the full-time whistle. None of the other players were there with their families. Stuart Dallas was also seen gathering photographers to capture the final moments in front of the Norman Hunter stand.

There’s more to say about Cooper, but that was very much like goodbye, Elland Road.

Wembley awaits

For the Whites, there will be a refreshing 10 days between full-time and Wembley. Farke said there has been no rest in the last 10 days for his players after the end of the season and then they prepare for Norwich.

With several days off planned, it is likely, even sensible, that the players and staff would have watched last night’s second leg at St Mary’s Stadium. They should come together as a unit to begin that final week of training on Sunday.

This will be a special week for everyone involved. Whether it’s the FA Vase or the Champions League final, playing at Wembley is a big deal, a landmark moment in every footballer’s career. It may be the first of many visits there or the only time in your career. They have to absorb as much as they can and seize the moment.

For Leeds, it will be their first visit since 2008 and that fateful League One play-off final with Doncaster Rovers. Just as Thursday was an exorcism of demons in 2019, next Sunday may be the same 16 years after their last visit.