The groans were audible as Leeds United, already struggling to break down a resolute Sunderland backline, wasted yet another set-piece in a poor first-half at Elland Road.
Ilia Gruev’s dead-balls had left a lot to be desired in the opening 45 minutes.
And, as the Bulgarian scuffed a dismal effort straight into the near man on the front post, that was the cue for many Leeds United supporters to start thinking about debating between a beer or a bovril during the half-time break.
It is no coincidence that after Daniel Farke brought on Pascal Struijk and Joe Rothwell – Leeds’ two ‘excellent’ substitutions turned the tide in their favour – the home team suddenly looked a threat from the sort of situation they frequently wasted earlier in proceedings.
Farke describes Rothwell as Leeds’ ‘best set-piece taker’. And the AFC Bournemouth loanee certainly lived up to his billing.
A fine whipped cross set up Struijk to equalise, before he rendered Anthony Patterson in the Sunderland goal helpless as the centre-back completed a stunning late brace five minutes into stoppage time.
Five days later, a cross from the right-hand flank was Patterson’s – and Sunderland’s – undoing once again. And, in a result which further boots Leeds’ chances of automatic promotion, it was none other than Joe Gelhardt who consigned Regis Le Bris’ team to a second defeat in the space of a week.
Joe Gelhardt’s corner the difference as Hull City beat Sunderland
Gelhardt – on corner-kick duty at the Stadium of Light – fizzed his delivery into the near post. Patterson flapped, the ball squirming through his hands and into the Sunderland net.
A moment which would have felt all the sweeter for Gelhardt considering his difficult loan spell on Wearside a few seasons back, even if he is unlikely to be credited with the goal which ends relegation-threatened The Tigers’ four-match wait for a win.
The Leeds-owned Gelhardt has made a good early impression at Hull City. A promising cameo on debut was followed up by a stunning long-range consolation in a defeat to Queens’ Park Rangers. This time, though, Gelhardt’s contributions really meant something.
Not only to his current club but his parent one too.
Hull moved three points clear fellow strugglers Plymouth Argyle, while Leeds can extend their advantage over Sunderland to 13 points with a win at Bramall Lane on Monday.
Gelhardt is threatening to become something of a fan favourite on Humberside. And he is doing his standing in West Yorkshire no harm either.
Leeds fans delighted to see Gelhardt shine in the Championship
‘Agent Joffy’, one delighted Leeds fan wrote on social media.
‘Flippin well played our Joffy,’ another agrees. ‘Our Joffy played brill’.
One supporter may have only been half-joking, meanwhile, when he urged Leeds to ‘get Joffy back and put him on corners’.
‘Joe Gelhardt looked great for Hull against Sunderland’, adds another, Gelhardt’s work-rate and boundless energy reserves catching the eye as much as his set-piece qualities. ‘His corner led to the goal and he didn’t stop running until the 96th minute.
‘Might have been useful to have around right now with [Mateo] Joseph not really living up to expectations.’
By Gelhardt’s own admission, the Leeds United players could not understand Hull City’s struggles down the bottom of the Championship when watching Ruben Selles’ side in action during January’s 3-3 thriller with Daniel Farke’s men.
Thanks in part to their loan signing from Elland Road, Hull are finally starting to produce results to go alongside their potential.
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