Redemption for Jack Harrison as he rescues Leeds United against Brighton

Redemption. At least in part, if not in full, for Jack Harrison. Seventeen minutes prior to a point-saving intervention, he had poked into his own net.

Yes, there was little Harrison could do, with Solly March breathing down his neck a yard out. But it still re-gifted Brighton a deserved lead, and Elland Road could have turned nasty. No, it would have turned nasty.

And then, Harrison’s moment. A quickly taken corner caught the visitors out, likewise the presence of a second ball on the pitch. Taking zero notice, Harrison dropped his shoulder and curled a glorious effort past a fully-horizontal Jason Steele.

Up went his arms in equal parts relief and ecstasy. Up went the home supporters in equal parts relief and ecstasy.

“I think Jack is an example in many things,” said Javi Gracia. “He works for the team; he defends; he attacks; he creates chances, he scores goals. The quality he has is without doubt.”

Harrison was a virtual ever-present in Leeds’ 2020 promotion, and has remained so in the years since. He is capable of brilliance, of trickery, and, most importantly of end product.

But this has been a testing period: after a quick-out-the-block start – three assists and a goal in the opening three games – the flames become barely a flicker.  His cause was not aided by a series of niggly injuries, but so far had Harrison’s stock fallen, he almost departed on January deadline day. Indeed, he got as far as Leicester’s training ground.

This was no Peter Odemwingie moment, though. It was Leeds who told Harrison, with his contract expiring next summer, he must be ready to move on. It feels improbable, if not impossible, that such a lack of love would not impact his performances. Yet he continues to march on.

Both of Leeds’ equalisers came as home discontent started to punctuate the air. “What the f—, what the f—is going on?” was audible moments before Patrick Bamford crashed in off the underside of the bar. It spared home players an earful at the break. Later, boos rang again with Brighton ahead and toying with the hosts, stretching them in every direction like putty.

A crowd accustomed to high-pressing, high-octane football under Gracia’s predecessors, saw a different approach. One of standing-off and waiting patiently. There was no such patience in the stands, particularly in a week where a second consecutive 10 per cent season ticket price hike was announced, but it pleased Gracia: “The players deserved the credit because they followed the plan.”    

Brighton will consider this a missed opportunity. They controlled the game, were slick and brimming with quality. They were not, though, clinical enough. Alexis Mac Allister was left virtually alone in the six yard box to head them in front but even a World Cup winner should not be immune to criticism: he should have had at least another.

And prior to Harrison’s leveler, substitute Danny Welbeck spurned a glorious opportunity. “Like Lions,” said Roberto De Zerbi of his players’ mentality and performance. “But we had many chances to kill the game. I think we lost two points today.”

This was definitely a bonus point for Leeds, who needed it with results unfavourable elsewhere. They remain in the bottom three, with the games earmarked as “winnable” running out. Half of their dozen matches left are against sides chasing Europe.

“Got any heartburn tablets, lads?” pleaded one home supporter in the bathrooms at half time. He really ought to worry about heartbreak, though.