Leeds United's Ethan Ampadu speaks out on nervous FA Cup moment against Harrogate Town
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In a fleeting moment of indecision, Ethan Ampadu knew he could have sent Leeds nosediving to another embarrassing FA Cup exit. When the United captain was caught dawdling on the edge of his penalty area by energetic Harrogate forward James Daly it gifted the League Two strugglers a rare chance.
Josh March fired goalwards and Ampadu might have been forgiven for fearing Harrogate would follow Crawley, Histon, Sutton, Rochdale and Newport as plucky Cup minnows flooring the Whites. But Karl Darlow saved to get the Wales international out of jail and, soon after, ex-Manchester United winger Largie Ramazani headed home in the 59th minute to ease any lingering Leeds fears.
Asked what he was thinking when getting robbed by Daly, stylish centre-half Ampadu admitted: “Move it quicker. Don’t lose the ball. Simple. I'm my biggest critic. So, as soon as that happened I knew what I should have done.”. The main aim this season for Championship leaders Leeds is, of course, to get promoted back into the Premier League. They resume that journey with another Yorkshire derby and Sunday’s high noon showdown against Sheffield Wednesday.
Boss Daniel Farke was able to make eight changes against Harrogate in the first competitive meeting between clubs who, despite being 67 places apart on the football ladder, only have 20 miles distance between them. Ampadu, 24, stepped up into midfield after spending most of his time in defence since his return from long-term knee injury last month. On his own progress, he said: “It’s good. Maybe not the moment we’ve just spoken about! But apart from that it's been good.
