Derby 1-3 Leeds: Premier League side produce impressive second-half comeback — Mail 11/1/26

Derby 1-3 Leeds: Premier League side produce impressive second-half comeback — as Daniel Farke dares to dream of FA Cup glory

By ROSS HEPPENSTALL

Daniel Farke has not always been fully trusted by sections of the Leeds United fanbase but the scenes at the end of this comfortable win told a story.

As the German's name was belted out with gusto by over 5,000 travelling supporters, Farke marched over to them, punched the air and thumped his chest.

Eight points clear of the relegation places with 17 games remaining, belief grows that Leeds can aim higher than mere survival this season.

Maybe, just maybe, they can have a serious crack at FA Cup glory too.

At least that was the way Farke was talking after his much-changed side ultimately reached the fourth round at a canter.

The 49-year-old is a dreamer and, having guided Leeds to promotion last season, sparking wild scenes during an open top bus parade around the city, he is aiming even higher.

After second-half goals from Willy Gnonto, Ao Tanaka and James Justin, Farke said: 'Once we came to terms with Derby's aggression and intensity, our quality shone through and it was a deserved win.

'I'm a big believer in cup competitions and we want to go as far as we can in the FA Cup.

'Of course we're not the favourites to win it, we know this, but competitions like the FA Cup are made for fairytales and we want to be involved in that.

'On days like this – a really difficult away fixture against a really good Championship side – progress into the next round is quite often the start of a fairytale.

'I want to stay humble. I don't want to speak about Wembley right now, but we are through to the next round and if we can keep progressing then I would take it.

'It would be great to write another chapter of big history for this amazing club. But right now, I'm still calm.'

He was anything but at half-time after 45 minutes in which Leeds missed a penalty and trailed 1-0.

Farke made eight changes from the side who lost 4-3 at Newcastle in a classic last Wednesday with in-form Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Brenden Aaronson benched.

That afforded opportunities to the likes of Joel Piroe and Gnonto but Leeds could not make their class pay.

Piroe smashed a shot against the post and then saw his penalty saved by Jacob Widell Zetterstrom after the Derby goalkeeper had brought down Lukas Nmecha.

Moments later, Ben Brereton Diaz put Derby ahead by slotting a low first-time shot past Karl Darlow for his second goal in as many games.

The home faithful roared their approval but their chants of 'Leeds are falling apart' were made to look foolish when Farke's men scored a sumptuous 55th-minute equaliser through Gnonto.

Jaka Bijol's pass was cleverly dummied by Piroe and Italy winger Gnonto rifled an unstoppable right-foot shot into the top corner.

It was a goal of Premier League quality and the first of the season for a player who can count himself unfortunate not to have played more this term.

From there Leeds began to motor and Tanaka, the Japan midfielder, tucked away a rebound from close range after post following Zetterstrom's initial save from Piroe's goal-bound attempt.

Derby, mid-table in the Championship, gave Leeds few problems in the second half and the visitors added a third late on when Nmecha broke down the left and crossed low for Justin to tap home.

It was a first Leeds goal for the former Leicester defender, who replaced Sebastiaan Bournauw after the Belgian was forced off at half-time with a hip flexor injury.

Derby boss John Eustace took heart from his side's first-half performance and the debuts of Oscar Fraulo and Owen Eames.

Eustace said: 'I just wanted the team to be competitive today.

'I wanted us to win, of course I did. But the bigger picture is that, as I've said, there's five or six players who desperately need minutes under their belt because they haven't played at all for much of the season.

'So we managed to be very competitive against a top team with top players who are excellently coached.'

Could Leeds go all the way in a competition they have won just once, way back in 1972?

You would have your doubts. Big doubts in fact.

Nevertheless, Farke's men have earned respect in recent weeks during a seven-match unbeaten run which included skirmishes with old adversaries Chelsea, Liverpool, twice, and Manchester United.

After a magic weekend for the FA Cup, few could begrudge Farke daring to dream.