Frank Lampard gave Leeds supporters a taste of their own medicine after Derby’s thrilling win at Elland Road to reach the Championship play-off final.
Substitute Jack Marriot was Derby’s hero as he scored a brace in Wednesday night’s second leg with Chelsea and Liverpool loanees Mason Mount and Harry Wilson also netting in a 4-2 (4-3 agg) victory for Lampard’s side.
Leeds looked to be on their way to Wembley as they went 2-0 up on aggregate with Stuart Dallas scoring midway through the first half but a spirited fightback from Derby set up a mouthwatering clash with Aston Villa for a place in the Premier League.
Much of the talk leading up the play-off semi-final surrounded the so-called ‘Spygate’ saga after Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa admitted to sending a member of staff to watch Derby train ahead of their 2-0 win in January.
Lampard blasted their tactics as ‘unethical’ at the time and the Yorkshire club were fined £200,000 which Bielsa paid out of his own pocket.
During the first leg at Pride Park, Leeds fans could be heard singing their own version of Oasis’ classic ‘Stop Crying Your Heart Out’ to taunt Lampard during the match – but it was Derby’s manager who had the last laugh. Derby midfielder Duane Holmes uploaded a video of the side’s wild celebrations in the changing room and Lampard can be seen belting out Leeds fans’ own chant against them.
Several Derby players were also seen taunting Leeds with ‘Spygate’ celebrations after Marriott’s late goal booked them a place in the final at Wembley.
Asked whether victory was ‘extra sweet’ considering the recent history between the two clubs, Lampard replied: ‘Maybe, maybe, I’m not going to lie maybe it is because I heard a lot of people saying that we’re crying over ‘Spygate’, I haven’t thought about ‘Spygate’ for a long time.
Derby became the first team ever to reach a Championship play-off final after losing the first leg of their semi-final at home, but Lampard knows the job is far from complete.
‘The players have done it, their work-rate through year since pre-season. We’re not there yet because I saw Villa last night, but they deserve to celebrate after their performance tonight,’ Lampard told Sky Sports.
‘We should have had a penalty and it was a huge performance from the lads. But this isn’t the end. There’s still work to do. ‘We’re underdogs again, we’ll have a brilliant game at Wembley against a brilliant Villa team. But we’re there.’
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