Mighty Leeds Weblog

Leeds United showcased why they were the team already safe in the Premier League relegation battle Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter There was always a danger that Leeds United's performance levels would naturally drop after survival was secured the night before, though you can bet Daniel Farke was not about to let that happen. Relegation rivals Tottenham Hotspur were playing at home for the first time since their back-to-back wins against Wolves and Aston Villa, buoyed by West Ham United’s defeat to Arsenal. That told in the atmosphere and also in the players, with confidence renewed. But Leeds were always going to have their say. Resilience has been a keyword for United this season, and they had to show that in various ways in Monday evening's 1-1 draw - firstly coming back from a goal down and then weathering the late barrage with 15 added minutes played in total. That perhaps epitomises this team under Farke. Quality might be lacking, but never effort and that s...

By Stuart Rayner Daniel Farke said he would not allow anything else after Leeds United fought hard for a point they did not need, but really wanted. The Whites' 1-1 draw was of more use to West Ham United than themselves, with the Hammers involved in a straight fight with Tottenham Hotspur to avoid following Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers into next season's Championship. And whilst Leeds were not at their best after being hit by freak gym injuries to Jayden Bogle and Facundo Buonanotte, they fought hard to come back from a Mathys Tel goal and equalise with a Dominic Calvert-Lewin penalty. "I wouldn't allow it in a different way, so if you put the white shirt on and represent this passionate and amazing club, you have all to play for, because we represent Leeds United, we want to make our supporters proud, and for that, if you're then not highly motivated in a Premier League game, you have chosen the wrong club," said Farke. "I would never a...

Tottenham 1-1 Leeds: Having provided a sublime opener, Tel’s foolish attempt at an overhead kick in his own box cost Spurs two points Miguel Delaney at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Yet another game dictated by VAR now, rather fittingly, looks set to bring the 2025-26 relegation battle down to the tightest of margins. That, however, is only going to cause emotions to waver as wildly – and as cruelly – as we saw in this 1-1 draw between Tottenham and Leeds. A big week for officials somehow had another crescendo. Some might say a nadir, given it makes for an even bigger season for officials. Two successive VAR calls saw Roberto De Zerbi and most of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium quickly go from exhilaration to exasperation. James Maddison, finally returning as a sub after Dominic Calvert-Lewin had equalised from a VAR-granted penalty, was denied what would have almost been a deus ex machina of an intervention. He ghosted into the box to be felled by Lukas Nmecha… only for Jared ...

Tottenham 1-1 Leeds: Spurs show the same streak of crippling self-sabotage despite Roberto De Zerbi's best efforts as hosts drop critical points in relegation dog-fight, writes IAN LADYMAN By IAN LADYMAN, FOOTBALL EDITOR Those who thought Roberto de Zerbi had cured Tottenham of all their ills, think again. How could you have been so naïve? Tottenham may have improved marginally since the arrival of the season’s third manager but the same hideous streak of crippling self-harm continues to run right through this dysfunctional football team. Here in front of almost disbelieving home crowd, De Zerbi’s team turned a shot at triumph in to yet another exercise in sporting sabotage and as such remain as likely to plunge into the Championship as they are to stay up. The torture of the unknowing goes on. This was their big opportunity, given to them the day before by Arsenal of all people. Their neighbours’ defeat of West Ham had opened the door and Tottenham, after a nervy start, ...

By Stuart Rayner Monday night was VAR payback time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for Leeds United and more so for West Ham United. The previous day, West Ham had endured a hammer blow when the video assistant referee denied them a stoppage-time point. On Monday night, Thomas Kirk came to their rescue, giving Leeds a penalty at the second time of asking. Then Kirk denied Spurs a 104th-minute spot kick for a faint scratch on the ball by Lukas Nmecha on James Maddison. This relegation battle is going own to very fine margins. Below their best, set back by injuries, Leeds nevertheless showed the professionalism and integrity to spoil the party. Had it not been for a brilliant stoppage-time save by Antonin Kinsky, the goalkeeper hung out to dry by Igor Tudor, the Yorkshireman could have won rather than drawing 1-1. It was a night of ifs, buts and maybes. In the comfort zone after having their place in next season's Premier League confirmed by West Ham's defeat, Leed...

By Lee Sobot Leeds United went into Monday night’s clash at fourth-bottom Tottenham already mathematically safe from relegation. A Leeds United side already mathematically safe from the drop delivered a hammer blow to relegation-battling rivals Tottenham Hotspur as a second half fightback and double VAR joy gave them a 1-1 draw. Unlike Tottenham, Leeds went into the contest with their Premier League survival already mathematically guaranteed after Arsenal’s 1-0 win at third-bottom West Ham on Sunday. Boss Daniel Farke, though, had already declared the importance of finishing the season as strongly as possible although news emerged of two new Leeds injuries before kick off with Jayden Bogle and Facundo Buonanotte both missing with hamstring injuries. Noah Okafor, Gabi Gudmundsson and Ilia Gruev had already been ruled out and Leeds then lost Pascal Struijk to injury in the game itself. Struijk was forced off after the Whites had fallen behind to a stunning strike from Mathys ...