Leeds United in real danger of being loved by the neutrals as they bow out of the Championship in real style

But on a night when Hull City, Barnsley and Middlesbrough fans all had to become slightly uncomfortable Whites fans for the night, Marcelo Bielsa’s champions put on a display which showed why they might not be as unloved as they would like to be next season.

Leeds traditionally feed off the fact so many of those who do not love them, hate them.

For 16 years they have been out of the Premier League and therefore for many, out of sight and out of mind. Many will not know what to expect when they watch Leeds on Match of the Day next season, but they are in for a treat. Some of the football in last night’s 4-0 win over a Charlton Athletic side playing for their Championship futures was deserving of their future status.

“Vamos Leeds carajo” read a banner across the top tier of the gigantic East Stand, a potty-mouthed exhortation of support referring to the celebration when Bielsa won his first title, at Newell’s Old Boys. When it comes to what others think of them, Leeds proudly do not give a carajo.

Sometimes when a football club holds a party, the only thing that threatens to spoil the mood is the football but Leeds put on a display which lived up to the occasion.

The flag and scarf sellers on Lowfields Road were back in business and before the end of the first half music was blaring from outside the ground and firecrackers popping away.

If they could have heard it above the din, one noise inside the ground would have told the revellers what was going on inside.

“Aww!” exclaimed those in the director’s box as one as Pablo Hernandez played an exquisite pass through the legs of Josh Cullen for Stuart Dallas to tuck inside the far post.

It was only 2-0, but already a cricket score was threatening.

Kinnear’s programme notes were all jokiness and self deprecation but the teamsheet was much more serious, a return to a more familiar Whites side after a few legs and heads were rested at Derby County.

Freed to play in midfield by a 3-3-3-1 formation, Stuart Dallas constantly ran in behind Charlton’s three central defenders, Hernandez and Mateusz Klich regularly finding him. Pull-backs from the byline were incessant.

When Hernandez and Dallas combined again in the 13th minute, the cross was cut out for another Leeds corner. It was half headed away for Ben White to chest and volley his first goal for Leeds in what, unfortunately, might be the loanee’s last game.

Soon White was carrying the ball from deep in his own half to deep into Charlton’s but his self-belief got the better of him a few minutes later when he was caught in possession. It was still lovely to see from an English central defender.

Twice in a minute late in the half Charlton threatened to catch Leeds on the counter-attack but Alfie Doughty, one-on-one with Illan Meslier put wide a shot he could not afford to, and Luke Ayling ensured there was not another.

At half-time, his team in the relegation zone... ish with Wigan Athletic’s possible points deduction not yet factored in, Lee Bowyer made a triple substitution and soon saw Meslier make two saves, with his right boot from substitute Chuks Aneke, and a more comfortable low stop from Cullen.

Leeds’s own half-time substitute Tyler Roberts ran to the near post and nodded in a Hernandez corner before two more-recent introductions combined.

Pascal Struijk played a sweeping left to right pass and Ian Poveda touched inside for Jamie Shackleton to score.

Charlton’s bench was subdued long before the killer blow came not at Elland Road, but Griffin Park, where Barnsley’s Clarke Odour scored the late goal that ensured they will be in the relegation zone regardless of Wigan’s fate.

As Charlton’s staff and a few players lingered on the pitch waiting for a full-time score from Brentford, Leeds sarcastically pumped a rendition of “Leeds are falling apart again” over the tannoy.

When the trophy was presented Bielsa was last in the queue, looking reluctant and sheepish, stood still as his players bounced around him.

If it was a long way from his celebrations with Newell’s back in Argentina in 1990, the exuberance of his team’s football was not.

Leeds United: Meslier; Ayling, White, Cooper; Harrison (Stevens 73), Struijk, Alioski (Poveda 63); Klich (Bogusz 73), Hernandez (Shackleton 63), Dallas; Bamford (46).

Not used: Miazek, Davis, Douglas, Casey.

Charlton Athletic: Phillips; Lockyer, Pearce (Morgan 46), Sarr; Matthews, Field, Cullen, Doughty; McGeady (Williams 46); Davison (Aneke 46), Bonne (Green 79).

Not used: Amos, Purrington, Oshijala, Hemed, Lapslie.

Referee: G Eltringham (Tyne and Wear).

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