Mighty Leeds Weblog

By Graham Smyth The YEP’s take and off-camera moments from Sunday evening’s win at Derby County. Leeds United ended 2024 on a high with a late but deserved winner at Derby County on a day when boo boys were silenced. The Whites went unbeaten in December, dropping only two points from a possible 18 with that draw at Preston North End. Derby at Pride Park represented a difficult test but Leeds made them look dreadfully poor for the vast majority of the contest before winning it with Brenden Aaronson's goal 11 minutes from time. Here's the YEP take on Sunday evening’s 1-0 success. Good day Jayden Bogle Booooo! It was still panto season in Derby as the home fans let Bogle know they had not forgotten his decision to leave Pride Park. Or perhaps they were chanting 'Booooogle.' Either way the right-back put in a second excellent performance in quick succession and looked like he relished every second of it. Leeds' right flank looks potent going forward this sea...

By Graham Smyth Perfection is neither realistic nor attainable but that does not mean Leeds United should strive for anything less because they are so capable. Pride Park has been the scene of Leeds-related near perfection. Most recently, Mateo Joseph scored no fewer than four goals in a single outing against the Rams Under 21 side. Prior to that, Mateusz Klich was breakdancing on the pitch after a still-merry Leeds team defied their headaches to win 3-1. The facial expression Ben White pulled at full-time said it all about how ropey he and his team-mates felt and yet they were well worth the victory. That day was remembered fondly on Sunday evening by an away end that reminded their Derby counterparts of the guard of honour Leeds received as champions. By the time this latest battle of the two old clubs was done, Rams boss Paul Warne was virtually standing to applaud Leeds as champions elect. A 1-0 victory, which followed a 2-0 win at Stoke City, was Leeds' third win on th...

By Lee Sobot Another clean sheet from Illan Meslier helped Leeds United to victory at Derby County. Illan Meslier has made a double Leeds United admission amid a personal milestone moment and saluted a particular Whites teammate. Sunday evening’s Championship clash at Derby County represented a landmark outing for Meslier as the Whites no 1 made his 200th appearance for the club. Despite his team dominating, the outing looked set to end in frustration as Leeds squandered a host of chances in front of goal despite limiting Derby to very little at the other end. Meslier was rarely troubled and was then finally able to celebrate an all important goal at the other end of the pitch in the 79th minute as Brenden Aaronson finished off a beautiful Whites move for the only goal of the game in a 1-0 success. Speaking post match to LUTV, Meslier admitted the contest had been a tough game against the stubborn Rams and also admitted his frustration at his team missing so many chances to...

The Whites boss made four changes to his side for Sunday's win at Derby Daniel Farke admitted he took a risk making four changes to his Leeds United line-up for Sunday's 1-0 win over Derby County, but felt his bravery paid off. The Leeds boss brough in Ao Tanaka, Mateo Joseph, Largie Ramazani and Wilfried Gnonto for the game at Pride Park - although it was not until he made second-half changes that the Whites finally broke the deadock. Brenden Aaronson's goal meant Leeds will begin 2025 on top of the Championship table after a dramatic day of action. With fixtures coming thick and fast - Leeds host Blackburn Rovers at Elland Road on New Year's Day - Farke insisted he had to rotate his squad, and was thankful it paid off in the end. "It was risky to make the changes," admitted Farke. "It would not have been risky if the gameplan worked. All credit goes to the players for scoring. Overall it is important to make changes. In this moment we have to us...

By Joe Donnohue Leeds United skipper Ethan Ampadu says he will be back to his best soon following his recent injury lay-off. Ampadu sat out two months with a knee injury earlier this season but in recent weeks has returned to play an important role in United's festive schedule. Leeds first defeated Oxford United 4-0 at Elland Road, in which the club captain made his return at centre-back, before a 2-0 win over Stoke City on Boxing Day, with Ampadu back in midfield. Following the hard-fought 1-0 win over Derby County at Pride Park, the skipper admitted there was still some 'rust' but he is feeling close to getting back to his best. "I'm okay. I give thanks to the physios and the staff for the rehab that I did. I feel quite good out there, but I know there's still a little bit of rust, so I'm just trying to shake that off." "Hopefully sooner rather than later," Ampadu said, on when he believes he'll be back to 100 per cent. "...

By Graham Smyth Daniel Farke saluted his side’s ‘poetic’ winner as Leeds United went top of the Championship by two points with a 1-0 win over Derby County. Leeds squandered a host of golden chances to win a second away trip on the bounce, with Brenden Aaronson, Mateo Joseph, Largie Ramazani and Daniel James all guilty of profligacy. But a beautifully-worked and patient passing move eventually broke down a stubborn Derby defence and Joel Piroe slid the ball through for Aaronson to win the game. “In the second half my feeling was we missed too many chances to win such an away game,” said Farke. “Even before the goal we had situations with Mateo, Largie, Brenden, Joe Rodon with a free header. But then we scored for me the goal of the season, unbelievable. I put it straight away into my poetry album and this on such a difficult pitch. A perfect team move, Brenden with a perfect calm finish.” Piroe was one of two substitutes involved in the winner, having received the ball from Man...