Leeds United How Chris Wood transformed Elland Road

Garry Monk’s men had laboured against the Cottagers, who, either side of Tom Cairney’s exquisite opener, had hit the woodwork through Sone Aluko and Matt Smith.

United seemed destined to be booed off for the third time in as many Championship outings this season. Wood, however, had other ideas.

Jeered after spurning that late inviting chance, the Kiwi striker delivered a timely riposte with a quite sublime overhead kick deep into stoppage time to rescue Leeds a point.

As Wood cupped his ear to his critics on the Gelderd End, Elland Road was transformed. The players, who but for Wood’s strike would surely have expected only scorn when defeat was confirmed, were afforded a warm ovation at the final whistle. Fine margins, as captain Liam Cooper conceded.

“The equaliser changed the mood,” said the Hull-born defender. “Football is a game of goals. We conceded with about 10 minutes to go and we could have dropped our heads and sulked.

“But we didn’t let that happen, we didn’t let our heads go down. We carried on fighting and it was a great finish from Woody, at the end. He deserved that.”

Wood’s delight at silencing those who had jeered him not only after his wayward finish against Fulham but also during last Saturday’s Birmingham City loss was obvious and his reaction when running in front of the equally joyous home fans perhaps understandable.

Being a target for the critics cannot be easy, not least because since arriving at Elland Road the striker has often been left isolated and exposed up front by United’s failings further back.

Tuesday night was very much in that mould with Fulham’s midfield trio of Scott Parker, Kevin McDonald and Cairney dominating proceedings to such an extent that Wood and Marcus Antonsson had to feed on scraps for long periods.

That Wood still produced such a spectacular finish after such a difficult and trying night was testament to the character of a striker who finished last season as Leeds’s top scorer with 13 goals. Cooper, for one, is certainly a fan of his team-mate.

“He is an honest player and what has been happening to him has been very harsh,” added the 24-year-old. “But we are in the limelight and there to be shot at.

“Chris will tell you himself he is disappointed to have missed chances. But we know he has that sort of finish at the end in the bag. He does it every day in training.

“We see him bang goals in every day, overhead kicks and good finishes. We know what he is capable of doing.

“The goal was very important. He has come in for a bit of stick but, fair play, to him as the goals will come. As long as he is getting chances, he won’t be bothered because he knows he will stick them in.”

Liam Bridcutt’s capture on a two-year deal on the morning of the game will surely help boost a midfield that looked very much second best in the 1-1 draw.

Pontius Jansson, a 6ft 5in defender, is also expected to join this week on loan from Torino after being in the stand at Elland Road for the visit of the Cottagers.

“It is up to the manager how many bodies we need,” said Cooper when asked about the need for new faces to bolster a young squad.

“From the beginning, he has said to us as well as the media that he will only bring in players who will better us. That is what he will do, as has happened with Liam.

“Liam brings a lot of experience. He has played in the Premier League. The manager has said all along that he will only bring in players who will improve us. Liam does that.

“He is a good player and we all saw what he was about last year. He gets stuck in and he will give his all. That is all we can ask.”

Next up for Leeds is a trip to Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday lunchtime. The Owls had their own setback, a surprise 3-1 defeat at Burton Albion, but Cooper is expecting a tough game.

“Sheffield Wednesday are a very good team and it will be a great game,” added the defender. “We just go there and play our game, try and imposes ourselves on them and play at a high tempo.

“We will give them a right good game. Against Fulham, I felt they had a couple of chances in the first half but I thought we got to grips with it after that.

“It is hard to go press teams when they play out from the back. You can’t get near them. So, it is important to save your legs.

“In the second half, I felt we caught them a few times and looked dangerous on the counter-attack. We have to keep the ball better, we do make it hard for ourselves at times.

“But we are getting there. I felt we were a lot more confident on the ball, and you can see how the manager wants us to play. We all want to do the same because it is the right way to play.”