We all knew Leeds were capable of the odd ropey performance…but oh my god.
Marcelo Bielsa may be one of the most respected managers in the game but he had little to be proud of on Sunday afternoon, as he watched league Two Crawley Town pick his side apart on their way to the fourth round of the FA Cup.
✅ Beat Leeds 3-0
✅ Through to the FA Cup Fourth Round
✅ Bring on a Reality TV starWhat a day for Crawley. pic.twitter.com/hqWmYXcudQ
— 90min (@90min_Football) January 10, 2021
There were early signs that we were in for an entertaining afternoon when Mark Wright, yes that Mark Wright, was named on the League Two side’s bench.
For whatever reason, the 33-year-old was given one last crack at the professional game last month, and the world of Twitter was vocal in its pleas to see the former TOWIE star feature at some stage.
? Will we see @MarkWright_? pic.twitter.com/ewasZqT2wX
— The Kitsman (@The_Kitsman) January 10, 2021
If Mark Wright comes on for Crawley and scores then we might as well end the search for the Darren ‘Baby Boy’ Byfield Is The Most 2003 Footballer Ever Class of 2021 award
— Major Charles Innocent (@JoeStephenson96) January 10, 2021
It’s reported that Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa watched the first three series of TOWIE to do his home work on Mark Wright. #LUFC pic.twitter.com/PuIsYqjuyS
— SportingBurntwoodFC (@SBFCOfficial) January 10, 2021
For all the talk about Wright, however, it was another player who soon stole the headlines. Nick Tsaroulla: remember (and learn to pronounce) the name.
The former Spurs and Brentford kid, just 21, swindled his way through the Leeds midfield with some mesmerising foot-work before passing the ball coolly across Kiko Casilla.
A solo stunner ?#EmiratesFACup @crawleytown pic.twitter.com/EhRATeSZYI
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 10, 2021
21 – Nick Tsaroulla’s goal was the 21st scored by a player aged 21 or younger for Crawley Town in all competitions this season – the most of any club in England’s top four tiers in 2020-21. Zest. pic.twitter.com/lTUxBJtxRU
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 10, 2021
#CrawleyTown “It’s been a long hard road for me and I am over the moon,” 21-year-old Nicholas Tsaroulla….”Getting a bit emotional.” — choking back tears as a promising career with Spurs ended in him being released after injuries suffered in a 2017 car crash. Wonderful story.
— Pirate Irwin (@pirateirwin) January 10, 2021
Leeds, being Leeds, responded by opening up even more in an attempt to pen Crawley in. But the League Two side weren’t having it, and had a second goal within minutes. Leif Davis gave the ball away near the half-way line and…yeah, this happened.
WOW ?#EmiratesFACup @crawleytown pic.twitter.com/TCz5VbUbur
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 10, 2021
Shocked Marcelo Bielsa’s Super Leeds are 2-0 down to Crawley Town. Shocked
— Scott Saunders (@_scottsaunders) January 10, 2021
Leeds 2-0 down to Crawley Town but at least they play amazing football, they are the real winners today
— ‘ (@vintageredss) January 10, 2021
Not content with just bloodying the nose of the Premier League side, Crawley were out to full-on embarrass them, and with 20 minutes to go, they had a third. Defending? What defending?
IT’S THREE FOR CRAWLEY! ??#EmiratesFACup @crawleytown pic.twitter.com/W4t1LlR6Kp
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 10, 2021
— Crawley Town FC (@crawleytown) January 10, 2021
70′ Goal Crawley. Casilla denies Nadesan, but can do nothing to stop Jordan Tunnicliffe from firing home the rebound 3-0
— Leeds United (@LUFC) January 10, 2021
TUNNYYYYY!!!!
Everyone in the stadium has lost their head as Tunnicliffe pokes in a third in the area.
? 3-0 ⚪
71′ | #TownTeamTogether ?
— Crawley Town FC (@crawleytown) January 10, 2021
At 3-0, Crawley were in full on banter-off mode. And the time finally came. Time to put things….Wright.
Here he is pic.twitter.com/iA9Ljlpp8t
— Joe Rawson (@joerawson) January 10, 2021
With stoppage time looming, on came the left-back for his professional debut. And while he looked absolutely knackered after just putting his socks on, he did indeed manage to complete three minutes without having any disasters.
Mark Wright makes his Crawley debut!
Watch Crawley v Leeds LIVE on @BBCOne, @BBCiPlayer and online: https://t.co/3BWQ4LOYgI #bbcfacup #FACup pic.twitter.com/uf2W1BjiZZ
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) January 10, 2021
Mark Wright on for Crawley. The crowning kick in the teeth. Into injury-time. 3-0. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) January 10, 2021
Crawley Town subbing on 33 year old reality TV star Mark Wright in the 90th minute to see out a 3-0 win over Leeds is superb shithousery. pic.twitter.com/jCB4QQKMIq
— Football Shithousery (@FootyRustling) January 10, 2021
People losing their shit over Mark Wright coming on for Crawley. Wait til we bring on Rylan at half time today
— Billie (@Billie_T) January 10, 2021
It was an embarrassing defeat for Leeds, but hey, at least they did it the Wright way.
Look at the end of the day, Leeds have been bodied by Mark Wright’s Crawley Town the right way, and that’s all that matters.
— Evan (@EvanMcFarlane) January 10, 2021
There was some concern that such a huge accomplishment from Crawley could be overshadowed by a reality TV star making a late cameo.
Feel sorry for the Crawley players who have been brilliant today and everybody will be talking about the sideshow Mark Wright…
— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) January 10, 2021
But does anyone at Crawley really care?
IT IS OVER!
REDS 3-0 LEEDS UNITED
WE ARE MASSIVE. #TownTeamTogether ? pic.twitter.com/QzV85twPem
— Crawley Town FC (@crawleytown) January 10, 2021
Apparently not.
Crawley Town: in the hat. Well in, lads!
