Pablo Hernandez’s late winner downed his former club Swansea and virtually sealed Leeds a place back in the Premier League for the first time since 2004.
The celebrations at Hernandez’s late strike told you Leeds know they have done it. It is not yet finalised mathematically, but it is now surely a case of when not if Leeds will return to the top-flight.
They are now three points clear of West Brom with three games to play. They need a further four points to seal automatic promotion. It will surely arrive in time, most likely with Leeds as champions.
This was a huge result for them and Hernandez was engulfed by his team-mates after converting Luke Ayling’s low cross. Bielsa and his coaching staff raced down the touchline. In the barren stands the club’s enthusiastic owners and boardroom members went wild with delight.
‘Of course he (Charlton) is a legend of the club. He deserves to be honoured by us. We have difficult feelings,’ said Leeds head coach Bielsa.
‘The fact we won in this situation when we have had bad news is amazing, but I don’t want to take the risk of talking about the victory and the loss of one person. I don’t want to link those two things. The match was very close with few chances.
‘When you score at the end it’s a higher feeling of emotion.’
Hernandez added: ‘Everyone at the club remembers him (Charlton). He’s part of the history and the three points is for everyone, especially him and his memory.
‘We know it’s a massive win, but you can never think all the work is done until the season finishes.’
There was certainly plenty of emotion in Leeds’ celebrations and throughout an afternoon of cut and thrust Championship action. Charlton would most definitely have been a fan. No quarter was given.
Charlton made a club record 773 appearances for Leeds over a 23-year period, becoming one of the all-time great central defenders in the game.
Leeds warmed up with shirts sporting ‘RIP big Jack’ while both teams wore black armbands and held a minute’s silence in memory of Charlton.
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