The 2018-19 season was a pivotal chapter for Leeds United, marked by the appointment of Marcelo Bielsa as head coach in June 2018. His arrival set the stage for an unforgettable campaign that saw Leeds flirt with promotion but ultimately fall short in the playoffs.
A Promising Start
Leeds began the season with high expectations and quickly demonstrated their potential. Their campaign kicked off with an impressive victory against relegated Stoke City at Elland Road, followed by a commanding 4-1 win against Frank Lampard’s Derby County at Pride Park, propelling them to 3rd in the Championship table.
Key Matches
- First Defeat: In mid-September, Leeds faced their first defeat of the season against former manager Garry Monk’s Birmingham City.
- Strong Position: By the turn of the year, Leeds found themselves in pole position, despite a disappointing 4-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest on January 1, 2019.
Transfers and Squad Dynamics
In January, Leeds missed out on signing Daniel James, a deal that fell through on the final day. However, they successfully secured the signing of Kiko Casilla from Real Madrid, bolstering their squad for the remainder of the season.
Mixed Form and Promotion Hopes
Despite a strong start, Leeds’ form dipped in January and February, with some attributing the decline to the Spygate controversy. Critical defeats in March against Sheffield United and Birmingham City left Leeds needing other teams to slip up to secure automatic promotion.
The Final Push
Leeds managed to secure crucial victories against Preston and Sheffield Wednesday, raising hopes for promotion. However, disappointing losses to Wigan and Brentford meant they would have to navigate the playoffs instead.
The Playoff Campaign
Entering the playoffs, Leeds faced Derby County. In the first leg at Pride Park, Kemar Roofe scored, giving Leeds a crucial lead. The second leg at Elland Road saw Stuart Dallas extend the aggregate lead to 2-0, but a mix-up between Kiko Casilla and Liam Cooper allowed Jack Marriott to score and reduce the deficit.
Heartbreaking Exit
Despite their earlier lead, Leeds faltered in the second leg, ultimately losing the tie 3-4 on aggregate. The loss sent Frank Lampard’s Derby County to the playoff final, ending Leeds’ promotion hopes.
Top Scorer and Season Highlights
The standout performer for Leeds was Kemar Roofe, who finished as the club’s top scorer with 15 goals throughout the season. His contributions were vital in many of Leeds’ key matches, underscoring his importance to the team.
Conclusion
The 2018-19 season was a rollercoaster ride for Leeds United and their fans. Under Marcelo Bielsa, the team displayed exciting football and resilience, but the heartbreaking playoff exit left a bitter taste. As they reflected on a season of promise, Leeds United aimed to build on their success in the following year, determined to achieve the promotion that eluded them this time.
Championship 2018-19 Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norwich City | 46 | 27 | 13 | 6 | 93 | 57 | +36 | 94 |
| 2 | Sheffield United | 46 | 26 | 11 | 9 | 78 | 41 | +37 | 89 |
| 3 | Leeds United | 46 | 25 | 8 | 13 | 73 | 50 | +23 | 83 |
| 4 | West Bromwich Albion | 46 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 87 | 62 | +25 | 80 |
| 5 | Aston Villa | 46 | 20 | 16 | 10 | 82 | 61 | +21 | 76 |
| 6 | Derby County | 46 | 20 | 14 | 12 | 69 | 54 | +15 | 74 |
| 7 | Middlesbrough | 46 | 20 | 13 | 13 | 49 | 41 | +8 | 73 |
| 8 | Bristol City | 46 | 19 | 13 | 14 | 59 | 53 | +6 | 70 |
| 9 | Nottingham Forest | 46 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 61 | 54 | +7 | 66 |
| 10 | Swansea City | 46 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 65 | 62 | +3 | 65 |
| 11 | Brentford | 46 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 73 | 59 | +14 | 64 |
| 12 | Sheffield Wednesday | 46 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 60 | 62 | −2 | 64 |
| 13 | Hull City | 46 | 17 | 11 | 18 | 66 | 68 | −2 | 62 |
| 14 | Preston North End | 46 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 67 | 67 | 0 | 61 |
| 15 | Blackburn Rovers | 46 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 64 | 69 | −5 | 60 |
| 16 | Stoke City | 46 | 11 | 22 | 13 | 45 | 52 | −7 | 55 |
| 17 | Birmingham City | 46 | 14 | 19 | 13 | 64 | 58 | +6 | 52 |
| 18 | Wigan Athletic | 46 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 51 | 64 | −13 | 52 |
| 19 | Queens Park Rangers | 46 | 14 | 9 | 23 | 53 | 71 | −18 | 51 |
| 20 | Reading | 46 | 10 | 17 | 19 | 49 | 66 | −17 | 47 |
| 21 | Millwall | 46 | 10 | 14 | 22 | 48 | 64 | −16 | 44 |
| 22 | Rotherham United | 46 | 8 | 16 | 22 | 52 | 83 | −31 | 40 |
| 23 | Bolton Wanderers | 46 | 8 | 8 | 30 | 29 | 78 | −49 | 32 |
| 24 | Ipswich Town | 46 | 5 | 16 | 25 | 36 | 77 | −41 | 31 |
Leeds United 2018-19 Fixtures and Results
| Competition | Date | Match | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| League Championship | 05 Aug 2018 | Leeds United v Stoke City | W | 3-1 |
| League Championship | 11 Aug 2018 | Derby County v Leeds United | W | 1-4 |
| League Cup | 14 Aug 2018 | Leeds United v Bolton Wanderers | W | 2-1 |
| League Championship | 18 Aug 2018 | Leeds United v Rotherham United | W | 2-0 |
| League Championship | 21 Aug 2018 | Swansea City v Leeds United | D | 2-2 |
| League Championship | 25 Aug 2018 | Norwich City v Leeds United | W | 0-3 |
| League Cup | 28 Aug 2018 | Leeds United v Preston North End | L | 0-2 |
| League Championship | 31 Aug 2018 | Leeds United v Middlesbrough | D | 0-0 |
| League Championship | 15 Sep 2018 | Millwall v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| League Championship | 18 Sep 2018 | Leeds United v Preston North End | W | 3-0 |
| League Championship | 22 Sep 2018 | Leeds United v Birmingham City | L | 1-2 |
| League Championship | 28 Sep 2018 | Sheffield Wednesday v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| League Championship | 02 Oct 2018 | Hull City v Leeds United | W | 0-1 |
| League Championship | 06 Oct 2018 | Leeds United v Brentford | D | 1-1 |
| League Championship | 20 Oct 2018 | Blackburn Rovers v Leeds United | L | 2-1 |
| League Championship | 24 Oct 2018 | Leeds United v Ipswich Town | W | 2-0 |
| League Championship | 27 Oct 2018 | Leeds United v Nottingham Forest | D | 1-1 |
| League Championship | 04 Nov 2018 | Wigan Athletic v Leeds United | W | 1-2 |
| League Championship | 10 Nov 2018 | West Bromwich Albion v Leeds United | L | 4-1 |
| League Championship | 24 Nov 2018 | Leeds United v Bristol City | W | 2-0 |
| League Championship | 27 Nov 2018 | Leeds United v Reading | W | 1-0 |
| League Championship | 01 Dec 2018 | Sheffield United v Leeds United | W | 0-1 |
| League Championship | 08 Dec 2018 | Leeds United v Queens Park Rangers | W | 2-1 |
| League Championship | 15 Dec 2018 | Bolton Wanderers v Leeds United | W | 0-1 |
| League Championship | 23 Dec 2018 | Aston Villa v Leeds United | W | 2-3 |
| League Championship | 26 Dec 2018 | Leeds United v Blackburn Rovers | W | 3-2 |
| League Championship | 29 Dec 2018 | Leeds United v Hull City | L | 0-2 |
| League Championship | 01 Jan 2019 | Nottingham Forest v Leeds United | L | 4-2 |
| FA Cup | 06 Jan 2019 | Queens Park Rangers v Leeds United | L | 2-1 |
| League Championship | 11 Jan 2019 | Leeds United v Derby County | W | 2-0 |
| League Championship | 19 Jan 2019 | Stoke City v Leeds United | L | 2-1 |
| League Championship | 26 Jan 2019 | Rotherham United v Leeds United | W | 1-2 |
| League Championship | 02 Feb 2019 | Leeds United v Norwich City | L | 1-3 |
| League Championship | 09 Feb 2019 | Middlesbrough v Leeds United | D | 1-1 |
| League Championship | 13 Feb 2019 | Leeds United v Swansea City | W | 2-1 |
| League Championship | 23 Feb 2019 | Leeds United v Bolton Wanderers | W | 2-1 |
| League Championship | 26 Feb 2019 | Queens Park Rangers v Leeds United | L | 1-0 |
| League Championship | 01 Mar 2019 | Leeds United v West Bromwich Albion | W | 4-0 |
| League Championship | 09 Mar 2019 | Bristol City v Leeds United | W | 0-1 |
| League Championship | 12 Mar 2019 | Reading v Leeds United | W | 0-3 |
| League Championship | 16 Mar 2019 | Leeds United v Sheffield United | L | 0-1 |
| League Championship | 30 Mar 2019 | Leeds United v Millwall | W | 3-2 |
| League Championship | 06 Apr 2019 | Birmingham City v Leeds United | L | 1-0 |
| League Championship | 09 Apr 2019 | Preston North End v Leeds United | W | 0-2 |
| League Championship | 13 Apr 2019 | Leeds United v Sheffield Wednesday | W | 1-0 |
| League Championship | 19 Apr 2019 | Leeds United v Wigan Athletic | L | 1-2 |
| League Championship | 22 Apr 2019 | Brentford v Leeds United | L | 2-0 |
| League Championship | 28 Apr 2019 | Leeds United v Aston Villa | D | 1-1 |
| League Championship | 05 May 2019 | Ipswich Town v Leeds United | L | 3-2 |
| League Championship Play-Offs | 11 May 2019 | Derby County v Leeds United | W | 0-1 |
| League Championship Play-Offs | 15 May 2019 | Leeds United v Derby County | L | 2-4 |
