Leeds United may not have achieved their ultimate goal of becoming a Premier League club in 2024, but there have still been plenty of memorable matches to look back on.
Aside from sticky spell towards the end of last season, Leeds have been extremely consistent throughout he calendar year.
2024 began with Leeds winning 12 of their first 13 Championship matches, as well as an FA Cup run that saw them reach the last-16, running Chelsea extremely close at Stamford Bridge.
After failing to get promotion over the line in May, Leeds have overcome their double heartbreak well to be sitting in the top two, with the festive period now upon us.
With that in mind, here is a look back at Leeds’ top five memorable matches over the last 12 months.
Leeds 3-1 Leicester City (Feb 23)
Starting with potentially the best game of the year was Leeds’ incredible late comeback victory over runaway Championship leaders Leicester City.
Friday nights under the lights at Elland Road simply cannot be beaten as it seems to bring out the best of the home support.
Leicester had dominated the game for much of the opening 70 minutes and should’ve found themselves more than just 1-0 ahead going into the closing stages.
However, once Connor Roberts found an equaliser out of no where, there was only one way this game was going. Archie Gray’s deflected strike put Leeds in front just moments after, with Patrick Bamford then sealing the win.
Jermaine Beckford hailed it as an ‘incredible‘ win for Leeds, and it is a game anyone who was there that night will never forget.
Middlesbrough 3-4 Leeds (Apr 22)
Leeds went to the Riverside with their promotion bid on the verge of falling apart after a run of just one point from three matches.
When Isaiah Jones put the home side in front early on after a mix-up at the back, it looked like Leeds’ chances of automatic promotion would be ending there and then.
However, an enthralling encounter saw Leeds take a 3-2 lead into half-time after goals from Crysencio Summerville, Bamford and Wilfried Gnonto.
Summerville then added a fourth for Leeds on the hour-mark with his customary cut inside and find the far corner, celebrating right amongst the travelling support.
Leeds 4-0 Norwich City (May 16)
If the Leicester win wasn’t the most memorable, then this emphatic play-off semi-final victory over Norwich City certainly takes top spot.
After a nervy 0-0 draw in the first leg at Carrow Road, Leeds completely smothered their opponents with three first half goals from Ilia Gruev, Joel Piroe and Georginio Rutter.
Illan Meslier’s one-on-one save from Josh Sargent at 2-0 also brought a cheer louder than most grounds after a goal.
Summerville then rounded off proceedings with a fourth 20 minutes from time, and while Leeds ultimately went onto lose at Wembley, there is nothing that can take away how special this game was for 36,000 home fans.
Leeds 2-0 Sheffield United (Oct 18)
Despite a solid start to the campaign, Leeds were still really waiting to really kick start their season into gear when Sheffield United visited Elland Road in October.
The Blades were unbeaten heading into the match and a clash with Chris Wilder is one that always gets pulses raising after his past comments on Leeds back in 2019.
Once again, a Friday night at home didn’t disappoint for Leeds as they produced a thoroughly dominant display to earn a comfortable 2-0 win.
Pascal Struijk ending Leeds’ eight-month wait for a goal from a corner made the win even more memorable, with Mateo Joseph’s stoppage time strike sealing the points.
Swansea City 3-4 Leeds (Nov 24)
Another 4-3 away win that simply has to make the cut is Leeds’ trip to Swansea City last month.
It was a manner of victory that very much resembled Leeds’ 5-4 win at Birmingham City during the promotion season under Marcelo Bielsa, as the game swung one way and then the other.
Despite Manor Solomon’s first goal for the club, Swansea took the lead twice in the first half to go into the break 2-1 ahead.
An own goal then got Leeds back on level terms, before Solomon looked as though he had won it when he doubled his goal tally for the afternoon.
But the drama didn’t end there as Swansea somehow found themselves an equaliser in the 90th minute, joy which was short-lived as Gnonto slotted in a winner just a matter of seconds later.
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
