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Pablo Hernandez magic secures massive win for Leeds as they inch ever close to Premier League promotion

Pablo Hernandez celebrates Leeds' dramatic winner at Swansea - GETTY IMAGES
Pablo Hernandez celebrates Leeds' dramatic winner at Swansea - GETTY IMAGES
  • Swansea City 0 Leeds United 1

Jack Charlton always said the most joyous moment of his playing career was not the 1966 World Cup but winning the League title with Leeds.  And to watch the substitutes instantly evacuate their carefully spaced seats in the Liberty Stadium's grandstand before jumping over the hoardings to celebrate with match-winner Pablo Hernandez was to understand the emotion a series of season-long quests can inspire in a footballer.

The Spaniard’s dramatic deadlock-breaker in the 89th minute takes Leeds three clear at the top and means they could return to the Premier League after a 16-year absence as soon as Thursday, although the manner in which Brentford are golloping up the points dictate they will likely need to beat Barnsley and gain a point against Derby - or the other way around - on Sunday to confirm their long-awaited passage before the final day.

Regardless, after this gutsy win, their third in succession, Marcelo Bielsa will be confident his men have the wherewithal to secure the required four points from the remaining three matches.

The Leeds players wore T-shirts emblazoned with “RIP Big Jack” before the kick-off and after the minute’s silence for their club’s record appearance-maker - who passed away on Friday aged 85 - they put on a 90-minute display that encapsulated the great man’s belligerence and belief.

Championship 2019/20 latest standings (top six)

No, it was not pretty and did not begin to resemble their 5-0 waltz against Stoke - but Charlton would have approved.

Of course, it was a falsehood when critics accused Charlton’s tactics of being exclusively those of the hefty boot and the blind gallop, but it cannot be doubted he revelled in the roll-up-your-sleeves challenge. Swansea only needed a point to leap above Cardiff, their nearest and dearest, into the play-off places and, after perhaps shading the first half, they bedded down for that scenario in the last quarter.

With Bielsa screaming “again, again” like a sadist in a dentist’s chair, Leeds continuously streamed forwards. Patrick Bamford will never know how Freddie Woodman turned away his diving header in the 64th minute, while in the 80th minute Jack Harrison’s effort saw only skylight.

Marcelo Bielsa patrols the touchline - GETTY IMAGES
Marcelo Bielsa patrols the touchline - GETTY IMAGES

Hernandez, the former Swansea favourite, was responsible for both of those chances and it was inevitable the immutable law of the ex would apply when the visitors finally found their way through. The 35-year-old has hamstring problems and has yet to start since the resumption, but the creativity and nous he brought when appearing after the break surely identifies him as the ideal influence to steer these youngsters across the line.

When Luke Ayling pulled it back, the savvy Señor was there to sidefoot the ball in off the post and so the entire squad and the coaches euphorically joined the mass huddle at the corner flag. Well, all but one. “When you score at the end it’s a higher feeling,” Bielsa said. “But I cannot enjoy this. The only thing I can enjoy is the last objective - if we get it.”