Mighty Leeds Weblog

By Kyle Newbould The former Leeds United boss was typically candid ahead of his Uruguay side facing England. Marcelo Bielsa admits Leeds United provided one of his ‘most beautiful’ footballing memories as he prepares to lead Uruguay out at Wembley. The much-loved former Leeds manager is back in the UK this week with Uruguay facing England in a World Cup warm-up friendly at Wembley this evening. The 70-year-old earned legendary status in West Yorkshire after ending the Whites 16-year wait for Premier League football in 2020. Leeds finished ninth in the Premier League under Bielsa before a poor summer of recruitment and injury issues led to his exit in February 2022. But more than four years on, he remains a hero around Elland Road with many fans making the journey down to Wembley this evening just to see him in the flesh. Bielsa has never returned to Leeds - at least not publicly - with plenty to keep him busy in South America while coaching Uruguay ahead of a World Cup. But i...

By Graham Smyth The Verdict on Leeds United's 0-0 Premier League draw at home to Brentford. Entertainment has left the building and into its place has stepped grim necessity. Saturday night, 8pm to 10pm. Prime time. Think Noel's House Party. Casualty. Ant and Dec, even. Big hitters, big laughs, big drama. Entertainment. The Premier League has become so much about physicality and set-pieces and is so full of very solid, sensible operators that games can be crying out for a maverick. For a Mr Blobby even. Something, anything to add a bit of colour, flair or drama. Something to spark the chaos that was so abundant in Leeds' charge to the title last season or even back in December. Brentford starting with a back five for the first time in months was perhaps the first note of warning that Leeds could be facing similar frustration to that experienced in the recent defeat by Sunderland. And with Leeds' misfiring in possession in the opening minutes - Anton Stach, Eth...

Leeds United found a solution but teams are now starting to figure them out Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter Leeds United really needed to win yesterday. A draw is not disastrous, especially against a team pushing for Europe, but three points for those pushing for safety at this stage of the season is vital. Last night was a chance to heap pressure on relegation rivals and to send a message with a hearted performance. That was a whimper. It’s not a loss but Leeds are playing a risky game if they are to draw their way to safety. Leeds will likely need more than 38 points to stay up, and Daniel Farke believes they still have it within them to go over that line. Maybe they do, but they did not show it last night. This international break comes at a good time to reset with Leeds in a slump. Their last Premier League win came on February 6 and their last goal a month ago. The last open goal they scored was in the 2-2 draw at Chelsea on February 10, via Noah Okafor. He has been ...

Leeds 0-0 Brentford: Leeds failed to score for the fourth successive league game as their winless top-flight run extended to six matches Mark Walker Leeds missed the chance to climb six points clear of the Premier League’s bottom three after being held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Brentford at Elland Road. With relegation rivals Tottenham, Nottingham Forest and West Ham all in action on Sunday, the Whites failed to score for the fourth successive league game as their winless top-flight run extended to six matches. Daniel Farke’s side lacked the quality to seriously trouble a well-drilled and resolute Brentford side, who were superbly marshalled by skipper Nathan Collins. Keith Andrews’ Bees, who could have climbed level on points with sixth-placed Chelsea with victory, came under sustained pressure only in the closing stages and were worthy of their point. There was a minute’s applause for former Leeds fans Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight before kick-off to mark the 26...

By Tom Coates Leeds United’s winless Premier League run was extended to six games by a drab draw with Brentford. It ended goalless after a turgid 90 minutes of frustrating football, during which both the Whites and the Bees underwhelmed. Leeds lacked sharpness and fluidity going forward, but did manage to keep the Bees and their array of tricky attacking customers at bay. Perhaps most alarmingly, it marked Leeds’ fourth consecutive league game without a goal. First half Brentford were the first to knock on the door, circumventing the Leeds backline with relative ease. Yehor Yarmoliuk beat the offside trap to peel away down the right and his cross was heading for Igor Thiago before Pascal Struijk managed to turn it behind. Leeds have a tendency to thrive when Elland Road is a floodlit bearpit but settling into the game proved tough for the hosts. Anton Stach had to be alert to hook a cross away from the boot of Keane Lewis-Potter, who was winding up a volley inside the box...

By Graham Smyth Brenden Aaronson has opened up on his Leeds United 'culture shock' and social media hate, but insists he's thankful he went through the Elland Road baptism of fire. The US Men's National Team player arrived at Leeds from RB Salzburg in the summer of 2022 for a fee in the region of £25m, aged just 21. Although he was originally a transfer target for the club during Marcelo Bielsa's tenure, Jesse Marsch was the man in charge when Aaronson eventually made the move to Elland Road. Speaking to the club's official podcast, Aaronson admitted that the price tag meant a certain level of expectation. "I can't speak enough about their development, but Salzburg is not the biggest fanbase and stuff like that - no disrespect - but then coming to Leeds, I think I came in for 20-something million and I'm a big signing and on that first day you've got to be ready. You're a kid so you're like 'I'm going to go out there and ju...

Leeds United might have been on the wrong side of referee luck in 2026 but they must hold up their end of the bargain Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter An exhale of breath, a short pause and a carefully delivered assessment. Ask Daniel Farke about a controversial referee decision that has gone against Leeds United and this is what follows. This has become almost routine-like in recent weeks, given the amount of pivotal calls that have landed butter-side down for Leeds. Farke is always measured in his thoughts and always clear. Just like his players, referees are not robots. They do not get things wrong on purpose. Respect is always paramount, which is perhaps why it is rare to see his men surround the referee over decisions, perhaps to the annoyance of some fans. It is also why the German, usually so cool-headed, was furious when - according to Farke - Peter Bankes showed him a red card without a glance or an exchange of words having jogged over to ask about stoppage time a...

By Graham Smyth Daniel Farke labelled the incident ‘crazy’ following Leeds United’s defeat to Sunderland. Daniel Farke's anger at the officiating of Leeds United's defeat by Sunderland has been vindicated by the Premier League's Key Match Incidents [KMI] Panel. Farke was aggrieved that Leeds were denied a spot-kick in the first half when Luke O'Nien grabbed Pascal Struijk around the neck, with the Whites defender going to the ground in the box. Struijk appealed but referee Stuart Attwell allowed play to go on and VAR did not intervene. The KMI panel has voted unanimously to say the officials got it wrong. As reported by the BBC, the panel noted that Sunderland skipper O'Nien is 'not looking at the ball, places his arms around the neck of Struijk in a clear non-footballing action and stops the Leeds United attacker from progressing towards goal.’ Farke described it as a 'crazy' decision in his post-game press conference. Officiating has become a...

By Tom Coates Dominic Calvert-Lewin has lifted the lid on his new lease of life at Leeds United - and the end of his lengthy association with Everton. The forward turned 29 yesterday (March 16) and has been rolling back the years with his exploits this season. Many doubted whether he was capable of emulating the form he displayed at Everton between 2019 and 2021, the form that catapulted him into the England set-up. However, having shaken off injury woes, the marksman has contributed 10 goals to Leeds’ battle for Premier League survival. Perhaps more pertinently, he has been a persistent threat with his movement and link play. Swapping Everton for Leeds was a bold decision - but one that appears to have paid off. Everton exit and Daniel Farke influence He told The Athletic: “Everton were very good to me, and I believe I was good to Everton. But I think mutually it got to a point where a change was needed. “The longer the summer went on, the more I felt the pull to stay ...

By Graham Smyth The Verdict from Leeds United's encouraging goalless draw at Selhurst Park. Leeds United have earned the right to remain masters of their own fate heading into the relegation run-in but they are long overdue some luck or even simply justice. With survival just a couple of wins from Leeds' grasp and there to be had, Daniel Farke could hardly be accused of hesitancy against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. The German started his first and second-choice centre forwards together for the first time since beating Chelsea at home. His midfielders were defensive enforcer Ethan Ampadu and offensive-minded pair Anton Stach and Brenden Aaronson. And back into the centre of defence came set-piece threat Jaka Bijol. The only selection decision that could be viewed through a more defensive lens was the dropping of Jayden Bogle, with James Justin taking his place at right wing-back, but the latter has more-than justified his involvement in 2026. No matter how ugly the ...

Injustice and inaccuracy cost Leeds United but the Whites showed something they needed to in that second half Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter Leeds United had to overcome a home crowd and a dismal refereeing performance to secure their 10th point on the road this season. But while the wait for an away Premier League win since September continues, this hard-fought 0-0 in testing circumstances could be just as galvanising. Leeds remain three points off the drop zone having kept a league clean sheet for the first time since the win over Fulham some two months ago. Ultimately, with 10 men, Leeds stretched their unbeaten away run to six in all competitions and four in the league, not suffering defeat on the road since that defeat to Newcastle United on January 7. That has got to count for something. Nottingham Forest drawing at home to Fulham may have done more damage to their morale while who knows whether Tottenham Hotspur’s draw at Liverpool will actually work in United’s f...

Crystal Palace 0-0 Leeds: Selhurst Park stalemate overshadowed by another refereeing howler as official appears to FORGET star was already on a yellow card By JAMES SHARPE You know you’re having a tough afternoon as a referee when you send off a player on the away team and the home fans still sing ‘you don’t know what you’re doing’ and then boo you down the tunnel. When Tom Bramall flicked his yellow card towards Gudmundsson for a foul on Ismaila Sarr, the red card didn’t immediately follow. It appeared as though he’d forgotten the left-back had already been booked. It was not until he was surrounded by Palace players and a few glances towards the fourth official that the red card came out. Only moments earlier, he’d penalised Jaka Bijol, who was already on a yellow, for stopping a promising attack but didn’t send him off and later kept his red card in his pocket again when Palace winger Brennan Johnson flew into a late tackle, his fourth foul of the match, but avoided a simila...

Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin missed a penalty and full-back Gabriel Gudmundsson was controversially sent off just before half-time. Andy Sims Daniel Farke felt Leeds paid for two crazy minutes when “the whole world” was against his side in the 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace. Moments before half-time in an otherwise forgettable match, Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin missed a penalty and full-back Gabriel Gudmundsson was controversially sent off. Referee Tom Bramall did not get in a huddle, but he was certainly in a muddle after booking Gudmundsson a second time in first-half stoppage time for a foul on Ismail Sarr. The official appeared to have forgotten he had already shown Gudmundsson a yellow card 20 minutes earlier, and only after someone told him did he brandish the red. Leeds boss Farke fumed: “It was doubtful if it was a foul. It was not even close to a yellow card, the decision. “There was no pace in the tackle, in the duel. It was not a tactical foul. It wa...

By Graham Smyth The Leeds United boss reflected on an important Premier League point despite adversity at Selhurst Park. Leeds United boss Daniel Farke heaped praise on his side for taking a point and a clean sheet from Crystal Palace despite losing Gabriel Gudmundsson to a highly-debateable red card. The Whites created all the chances of the first half and missed a penalty before Gudmundsson was harshly handed a second yellow card. Referee Thomas Bramall clearly forgot he had already booked the Leeds defender earlier in the game and had to be reminded that he needed to produce the red. But despite playing the entire second half a man down, Leeds defended their box with their lives and Palace were unable to muster a single shot on target throughout the encounter. Karl Darlow was called into action to palm a deflected ball around his post but was otherwise protected. "First of all I have to give lots of compliments to my players," said Farke. "It was another day t...

By Stuart Rayner Leeds United often enjoy it when their backs are up against the wall, and they successfully held out for half a game with 10-men to claim a 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace that should have been more. Furious with referee Thomas Bramall for sending off Gabriel Gudmundsson, the Whites did a good job of shutting down the second half of an already poor game to escape from Selhurst Park with a clean sheet. But it only added to the sense of what might have been after Dominic Calvert-Lewin missed the target with a penalty when the game was still 11 versus 11. Even with a man more, a poor Palace were there for the taking. Fortunately, the achievement of not being beaten outshone it. If the football summed up the low quality of the Premier League at the moment, the game also highlighted the standard of refereeing. From finding themselves in a very pretty position 43 minutes into an ugly game, Leeds looked to have tossed it away in a matter of minutes. But they ended up k...

By Kyle Newbould Leeds United fought tooth and nail to earn a point at Selhurst Park. Ten-man Leeds United produced an outstanding defensive performance to keep Crystal Palace at bay and earn a 0-0 draw away from home. Dominic Calvert-Lewin missed a first-half penalty minutes before Gabriel Gudmundsson’s controversial dismissal for a second yellow card, with Leeds forced to play the entire second-half a man down. But with backs to the wall they fought their way to an impressive point. After rotating heavily against Norwich, Daniel Farke returned to something more resembling his strongest line-up at Selhurst Park with some bold changes. Lukas Nmecha started to the left of Calvert-Lewin while Jaka Bijol returned to the back three, with Ilia Gruev and Jayden Bogle dropping out. Leeds looked a little shaky at the back early on with a free-kick providing Palace an early opportunity which Brennan Johnson hit into the wall. Brenden Aaronson then dragged a left-footed effort wide fro...

By Don Mort, Local Democracy Reporter The sale of land at Elland Road could attract £2billion of private investment to the city as the council presses ahead with the move. Leeds City Council said the redevelopment of the site could include 2,000 new homes. The Labour-run council is set to sell 30 acres of land around Leeds United’s stadium, which is itself set to redeveloped under plans by the club. The land sale would be made to a joint venture company set up by the club and Lowy Family Group, an investor in United’s owners 49ers Enterprises. The stadium is set to be expanded to a capacity of 53,000 after Leeds secured planning permission. Deputy council leader Jonathan Pryor, speaking at an executive board meeting, said: “The development of Elland Road and disposal of this land will hugely benefit the local area.” Coun Pryor said funds raised from the sale would be used for infrastructure projects in the city. Councillors agreed in principle to press ahead with legal ...

Joe's big coat Words by: Chris McMenamy After several minutes spent alleging unrepeatable things towards a fan in the away end, the Leeds fans in the South Stand erupted as Joel Piroe made it 3-0 to United. The vocal minority of Elland Road were speaking on behalf of 36,000 people whether they liked it or not. Leeds were cruising to a win against a brave but ill-equipped Norwich City side and almost everyone inside the ground had reached a state of zen that felt unachievable in recent weeks. Despite being the third Championship outfit Leeds have faced in their FA Cup journey, the Peacocks’ fifth round tie was the first to feel in any way reminiscent of the 2024/25 centurion season. Dan James sped past opposing full-backs like they weren’t there, Ao Tanaka looked a step ahead of every Norwich midfielder and Joel Piroe finished a gilt-edged chance when it was presented to him. And they all did so without having to get out of second gear. The difference between twelve months a...

By Graham Smyth Leeds United have given themselves a decent chance of a Wembley visit by beating Norwich City and overcoming an obstacle that has caused so many to stumble in the FA Cup. Daniel Farke sent a team with nine changes out onto the Elland Road pitch, keeping only Gabriel Gudmundsson and Ethan Ampadu in the starting line-up. He would likely loved to have rested his left wing-back, yet with a paucity of other options the Swede had to start again. In the last round against Birmingham City Farke did rest Ampadu and that experiment lasted just 45 minutes. Farke has often spoken of how difficult it is for individuals to shine and collectives to click when rotation goes beyond the norm of two or three changes, so he took a risk with nine. Despite the huge difference in personnel there was still a familiarity in Gudmundsson racing down the left and winning an early free-kick. Failing to make the most of the set-piece was also reminiscent of recent games. But it was a clunky ...

By Graham Smyth A 'perfect message' from Elland Road has been hailed in response to another Ramadan break. Elland Road sent a 'perfect message' during Leeds United's FA Cup win over Norwich City when players were applauded after breaking their fast for Ramadan. It made national headlines when booing was heard during Leeds United's game against Manchester City after a number of visiting players came to the touchline to break their fasts. But Daniel Farke and Leeds later pointed out that many supporters in the ground were unaware of what was going on, because there was no messaging from either club prior to the game and it was reminiscent of a 'tactical timeout' taken by City in the previous meeting. The Whites put out a statement before the Norwich tie asking fans to respect the breaking of fasts by Norwich players and Leeds attacker Joel Piroe. Referee Darren England stopped the game in the second half as Norwich prepared to make a number of ...

Leeds 3-0 Norwich: Sean Longstaff and Gabriel Gudmundsson struck first-half goals and Joel Piroe put the tie to bed Mark Walker Leeds cruised into the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time in 23 years with a 3-0 win at Elland Road against head coach Daniel Farke’s former club Norwich. Sean Longstaff and Gabriel Gudmundsson struck first-half goals and Joel Piroe put the tie to bed in the closing stages as Leeds sealed a place in the last eight for the first time since 2003 under former manager Terry Venables. Leeds bounced back to winning ways after successive Premier League defeats left them three points above the relegation zone, while Norwich failed to reproduce the form that saw them win nine of their previous 11 matches in all competitions. Farke, who twice led Norwich to Premier League promotion and reached the FA Cup’s last eight with them six years ago, watched from the stands as he served a one-game ban for his red card in last week’s home defeat by Manchester City...

By Lee Sobot Leeds United took on Norwich City at Elland Road for a place in the FA Cup’s quarter finals. Leeds United booked a place in the FA Cup’s quarter-finals for the first time in 23 years as left back Gabi Gudmundsson particularly dazzled in a 3-0 win against Sunday’s fifth round visitors Norwich City. Leeds looked to have gone ahead in the 20th minute as Lukas Nmecha rolled the ball home from a Willy Gnonto knockdown to a long ball from Jaka Bijol but VAR intervened to judge that Gnonto had handled the ball in challenging keeper Daniel Grimshaw. The goal was disallowed but a dominant Whites ahead just after the half hour mark through a brilliant turn and finish from Sean Longstaff after Gabi Gudmundsson's excellent cutback from the byline. It was one-way traffic and Daniel Farke's Whites doubled their lead in the 42nd minute as a Dan James cross was only cleared to the excellent Gudmundsson who slammed home a clinical and no nonsense finish from the middle of...