Wilfried Gnonto must have thought he found the winner on Monday when he curled one headed for the far corner with only two minutes left on the clock.

The Italian had made an impression after coming on in the 85th-minute, winning a free-kick and driving with the ball. His bending shot looked goal-bound.

However, a reaching paw from Sheffield United Michael Cooper turned the ball round the post in what he might have felt was a point-saving save. Not so.

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The resulting corner led to Junior Firpo heading into the path of Ao Tanaka, who - via the bar and defender - managed to find the corner Gnonto was aiming for originally. Cue pandemonium in the away end and on the pitch.

Gnonto was the first on-field Leeds United player to get his hands on the goal-scorer in delight. It was only eight days ago that he and Tanaka were jollying on the pitch after Pascal Struijk’s late winner against Sunderland.

That game, Daniel Farke made two super substitutions to turn the match on its head. Pascal Struijk and Joe Rothwell combined twice to send Elland Road barmy and the pair almost did so again at Bramall Lane.

Struijk would have got his head to the ball from Rothwell’s corner if Firpo hadn’t got there first. Not that he cares. On Monday, Struijk was brought back into a league line-up for the first time since New Year’s Day having been sidelined afterwards with a hamstring injury.

Rothwell is ever the professional but he would have been justified in feeling miffed to be left out against Sheffield United, given his two match-winning assists against Sunderland. He played another pivotal role in Monday’s second goal too, his corner leading to what was the winner.

But that’s only a portion of what he offered Leeds when he came on 13 minutes after half-time. Farke was watching from the gantry with the coach serving a touchline ban for yellow-card accumulation following his third of the season versus Sunderland.

He said afterwards he was able to get a good tactical view from his vantage point but also said he would have been able to see what was needed from the touchline. Leeds lacked control in midfield. Tanaka and Ilia Gruev did well individually but were stretched as a duo.

That Rothwell came on was no surprise and he immediately added stability to the centre of the park for Leeds. The Bournemouth loanee is praised for his work with the ball - Farke calling him a “pure baller” following the Sunderland win.

But it is his off-the-ball work that has just as big an impact. The midfielder adds a structure to the midfield that is lost when he is absent and it gave Leeds permission to take control of the contest on Monday.

West Bromwich Albion come to town on Saturday and will be looking to dampen the party mood with Tony Mowbray’s side aiming to consolidate a play-off place. Amid current standings, the Baggies, fifth, are the highest-ranked team Leeds will face from now until the end of the season.

In many ways, this fixture is as important as the previous two against promotion rivals. There is no point beating your nearest competitors if you go and drop points against lower-ranked teams.

In their last three wins, West Brom have attained more than 60 per cent possession. In fact, the team likes to dominate possession as a rule. If Leeds can disrupt that and take control of the midfield, that’s one battle won.

To do that, Rothwell has to start. He and Tanaka worked well together when Ethan Ampadu was forced to play in defence during January and beyond. And now with the captain set to be out for a significant spell, Leeds can reprise that duo.

It worked well against Sheffield United, and so there’s no reason why it won’t work against every other league rival. Farke has many super subs, as seen in the last two matches, but Rothwell will want to shake that title and return to the starting XI on Saturday. He deserves to.