Mighty Leeds Weblog

Neil Squires at Elland Road The ironic chants of “Leeds are falling apart again” rang around a jubilant Elland Road after Jayden Bogle’s 13th-minute goal put Leeds back to the summit of the Championship. Maybe not this time. Burnley’s victory over Norwich on Friday knocked Leeds off the top of the table, but the full-back’s sixth goal of the season made sure that state of affairs was temporary. While it was good to be back there for the Leeds supporters, the euphoria that greeted the final whistle was fuelled just as much by the news of Sheffield United losing at Plymouth. Leeds are now five points clear of their promotion rivals with four games to go. In the swirling eddies of a three-into-two automatic promotion race, this could end up being a potentially decisive 24 hours. Leeds made hard work of delivering their part of the bargain, wasting a stream of chances to make for an unnecessarily stressful conclusion. “If you want to win promotion, you have to have a special ment...

By Stuart Rayner Doubted and decried with disrespectful regularity, Leeds United manager Daniel Farke knows a thing or two about promotions. Farke has won the Championship twice with Norwich City, and gone up three times in German football. When he said in the Luton Town press room he thought Leeds had won a "good point" at Kenilworth Road, it felt like he was in a minority, possibly even of one. But three Sheffield United defeats and two Leeds wins later, guess what? It turns out he knows what he is talking about. He was far too shrewd to say out loud that Saturday was decisive in the Championship promotion race, but his demeanour on a triumphant lap of honour after an unnecessarily uncomfortable 2-1 victory over Preston North End spoke volumes. Inside the stadium he called the three points "priceless" over and over. He previously stated his "100 per cent" conviction Leeds will be promoted this season and doubled, trebled and quadrupled down o...

By Graham Smyth The YEP’s take and off-camera moments from Saturday’s 2-1 victory at home to Preston. Leeds United took a big step forward with their victory over Preston North End, without three key players. Daniel James joined Joe Rothwell and Pascal Struijk on the injured list for the Elland Road clash but even without the talismanic Welshmen, the set-piece specialist and their vice captain Leeds were too much for Preston to handle. Manor Solomon stepped up with a sublime performance and fellow goalscorer Jayden Bogle also caught the eye on a day of Championship promotion chaos. Here's the YEP’s take on Saturday’s 2-1 victory against the Lilywhites. Good day Manor Solomon When you have a talent level that belongs in the top tier then it's only fair that expectations are set high. Solomon should be dominating in the Championship and hadn't hit the heights that much lately but this was him at his unplayable best. Preston couldn't get near him. The goal ...

By Graham Smyth Leeds United have reached 'just win' territory in the Championship season where chaos abounds and keeping your head is more than half the battle. It's all well and good having technical superiority - Paul Heckingbottom all-but admitted as such by throwing his hands up and lauding Leeds' attacking depth at full-time of Preston North End's 2-1 defeat at Elland Road - but the variables of emotion and pressure can do funny things to football results. Chris Wilder's involvement in an ugly confrontation after Sheffield United's 2-1 loss at bottom side Plymouth Argyle suggested the funny side had escaped him entirely. The two late Pilgrims goals that condemned Blades' to a third straight defeat were heard, felt and celebrated 326 miles north at Elland Road, where the urgency level was raised to critical in the final few minutes. The knowledge that a victory would once again create a five-point gap between Leeds and the Blades was a tantali...

By Lee Sobot Jayden Bogle struck what proved the winning goal in Saturday’s 2-1 success against Preston at Elland Road. Whites star Jayden Bogle has issued an unprecedented Leeds United verdict upon Saturday’s thrilling win against Preston North End and thanked a former star for an ‘assist’. Right back Bogle’s sixth goal of the season ultimately proved the winner against the Lilywhites as part of a 2-1 victory that sent Leeds back to the top of the Championship. Furthermore, the triumph created a new five-point cushion in the division’s automatic promotion places with just four games left as third-placed Sheffield United suffered a 2-1 defeat at Plymouth Argyle. The Blades had led at Plymouth and news of Plymouth’s goals made Elland Road even louder as the club’s fans yelled Farke’s Whites to victory. Wild celebrations followed at the full-time whistle - and Bogle says the atmosphere was like nothing he has ever previously experienced. Visibly buzzing from United’s crowd,...

By Tony Harber Daniel Farke warned there is still work to be done, but his Leeds United side took a giant stride towards the Premiership with a thoroughly deserved 2-1 win over Preston while rivals Sheffield United were losing by the same score at Plymouth. The results left the Whites five points clear of the Blades with four Championship games remaining and knowing seven more points will take them up whatever results Chris Wilder's men manage in the rest of their season. Leeds backed up their midweek win at Middlesbrough with another superb attacking display and the only surprise was that they did not beat Preston by at least five goals. “We have experienced how difficult it is to win points on the road. “We have a massive game (at Oxford) coming up, have to prepare in a proper way. If we're not focused we have no chance to win any points. “Pretty difficult and complicated weekend coming up and we know how quick things can change in this league, there's always ...

By Graham Smyth Whites fans saw their team beat Preston - and for some the day then got even better. Leeds United supporters were treated to a free bar at Elland Road as one of the club's owners celebrated victory over Preston North End. Pete Lowy, heir to a billionaire fortune, wanted to thank fans for the atmosphere created during the 2-1 win that took the Whites back to the top of the Championship table with four games remaining. Leeds' win, coupled with a 2-1 defeat for Sheffield United at bottom side Plymouth Argyle, created a five-point gap between themselves and the third-placed Blades. The leaders moved on to 88 points, with goal difference separating them from second-placed Burnley. Sheffield United and Burnley still have to meet as the automatic promotion race heads for the finish line. Early goals from Manor Solomon and Jayden Bogle gave Leeds their 2-1 scoreline and in a feverish atmosphere Daniel Farke's men dominated the second half to make it cons...

By Danny Hall Inquest begins after worst possible week leaves Sheffield United’s automatic promotion hopes in tatters A week that Sheffield United had earmarked as a big one in their pursuit of Premier League football could not have gone any worse after three shock defeats left their automatic promotion hopes in tatters. The Blades are now five points adrift of Leeds United and Burnley, with just four games of the regular season to go. While Chris Wilder will not publicly throw in the towel just yet, he has been around the block enough times to know that his side have squandered a huge opportunity to keep the automatic promotion race alive after wins for both Leeds and Burnley over this crucial game week. The defensive solidarity that had been a hallmark of United’s promotion push early on seems to have completely eluded them, with two more preventable goals conceded at Home Park. They created some good opportunities again but squandered them. A haul of one goal in a three-game...

By Graham Smyth Daniel Farke saw his side take a huge step towards automatic promotion against Preston with a big boost at the other end of the country. Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has cautioned against head loss as the automatic promotion race swung wildly with results at either end of the country. At Elland Road, Leeds spurned a glut of chances but held firm amid Championship chaos to take a huge victory over Preston North End. Goals from Manor Solomon and Jayden Bogle brought three points to send the Whites back to the top of the table, level on 88 points with Burnley. Sheffield United now sit five points back after conceding twice late on to lose 2-1 at bottom side Plymouth Argyle. There were ugly scenes at full-time with Chris Wilder getting involved in a confrontation that led to pushing and shoving between players in the tunnel. Farke was delighted that his men held firm despite a feverish atmosphere at Elland Road, where events in the Blades game were made obviou...

Whites move back to the top of the table! Leeds United faced Preston North End in the early kick-off at Elland Road in the Sky Bet Championship, producing another strong performance to seal three points. Daniel Farke made just the one change from the midweek win over Middlesbrough, which was an enforced one, after Dan James picked up an injury after scoring the winner at the Riverside Stadium. His replacement in the starting XI was Willy Gnonto. Under the sunshine of Elland Road, the Whites got off to a perfect start, taking the lead just four minutes after the referee had blown his whistle. After some patient build-up play, Ilia Gruev found Manor Solomon on the left and the winger had no doubt about his next move, cutting back inside on his right and curling into the top corner of the net! The visitors responded quickly though and levelled within two minutes, in a similar fashion. Kaine Kesler-Hayden was found on the right and he cut inside on his left and drilled powerfully...

By Stuart Rayner Daniel Farke hailed a "priceless three points" for Leeds United as they beat Preston North End whilst Championship title rivals Sheffield United were losing for the third game running. With four games to play, Leeds are only top on goal difference from Burnley. But more importantly, their 2-1 win over Preston, combined with Sheffield United's surprise 2-1 defeat at Plymouth Argyle opened up a five-point gap to third place. The Blades are at Burnley on Easter Monday. Preston quickly equalised Manor Solomon's fourth-minute goal but from there on Leeds dominated the game. But their failure to add to Jayden Bogle's 13-minute strike, despite a string of chances for Joel Piroe in particular, kept the result in doubt until the final whistle. That, plus the news from Home Park made an important victory all the sweeter. "It feels pretty good after an exhausting week with three difficult games, two difficult away games and a complicated gam...

By Joe Donnohue Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder appeared to lose his cool following the final whistle as the Blades were beaten late on at Plymouth Argyle. Wilder's side gave up a first-half lead at Home Park to record their third consecutive defeat in the space of a week, losing significant ground in the Championship promotion race. As Leeds United were celebrating with a customary post-match lap of honour at Elland Road having beaten Preston North End 2-1, Wilder gave his players a dressing down on the pitch after Ryan Hardie and Muhamed Tijani's late strikes for Plymouth turned the tables on Sheffield United. Upon making his way from the field, Wilder approached Mustapha Bundu and Leeds loanee Darko Gyabi, appearing to take issue with the two players celebrating relegation-threatened Argyle's victory at the Blades' expense. Wilder was shepherded away from the Plymouth men as more players and staff members became involved in the heated discussion, whic...

By Graham Smyth Ex-Leeds boss Paul Heckingbottom saw his Preston side defeated 2-1 at Elland Road. Paul Heckingbottom has highlighted one of the key weapons in Leeds United's automatic promotion arsenal. The Preston North End boss made a point of mentioning it to Daniel Farke after the Whites' 2-1 victory over Heckingbottom's side at Elland Road in one of Saturday's two early kick-offs. Leeds took the lead on four minutes through Manor Solomon's screamer and though Preston levelled two minutes later, the hosts were back in front before a quarter of an hour was played. Solomon was the provider, crossing perfectly for Jayden Bogle to knock in the second. Leeds and Joel Piroe in particular missed a glut of chances to further their advantage but even in a wild atmosphere as Elland Road responded to Plymouth equalising and then going in front, Farke's men held on to go back to the top of the league. They're level on 88 points with Burnley but now fi...

By Joe Donnohue Leeds United's Championship promotion rivals Sheffield United were beaten at Plymouth Argyle on Saturday lunchtime. Leeds moved five clear of third place on Saturday afternoon with victory over Preston North End at Elland Road. The Whites' two early goals, either side of Kaine Kesler-Hayden's equaliser, ensured Leeds went back to the top of the Championship table. However, it was at Home Park where the most consequential game of the Championship promotion race played out. Chris Wilder's Blades went a goal up courtesy of Jesurun Rak-Sakyi's curling opener but conceded two late goals to relinquish their grip on the game, slipping five points behind Leeds and Burnley with just four games of the campaign remaining. When could Leeds be promoted? It means Sheffield United's maximum final point tally this season is 95, seven more than Leeds currently have. Should Leeds win each of their next three fixtures, the team will be automatically promo...

By Lee Sobot Leeds lined up against Preston having dropped back to second. Leeds United returned to the top of the Championship with just four games left with a 2-1 win at home to Preston North End as Daniel Farke's Whites also received an enormous extra boost. Leeds needed to beat Saturday lunchtime's visitors Preston to reclaim top spot on goal difference after Friday night’s 2-1 win for Burnley at home to Norwich City sent the Clarets top as the Whites dropped back to second. Saturday’s hosting of the Lillywihites acted as a Leeds game in hand and the Whites took care of their own business as goals from Manor Solomon and Jayden Bogle sealed a 2-1 success for Farke’s side. But in an absolutely enormous extra boost, key automatic promotion rivals Sheffield United also suffered a third defeat on the spin as they lost 2-1 at Plymouth Argyle, despite leading 2-1 at the break. Leeds now have a five-point cushion in the division’s automatic promotion places back to the ...

By Lee Sobot Whites captain Ethan Ampadu has saluted a Leeds United response. Whites skipper Ethan Ampadu has made a Leeds United ‘big statement’ declaration and fired a Championship rivals warning. Leeds are approaching Saturday lunchtime’s Championship hosting of Preston North End on the back of a big midweek boost through Tuesday night’s 1-0 win at Middlesbrough. Writing in his captain’s column of Saturday’s Preston matchday programme, Ampadu said Leeds had made a “big statement” by winning at “one of the top sides in the division” - despite seeing two goals wrongly disallowed for offside. The win put United’s title destiny back in their own hands though Ampadu has also fired a big warning about what will be required to beat Saturday’s visitors Preston. Ampadu wrote: “At Middlesbrough in midweek, we were delighted to come away with all three points. “Middlesbrough are one of the top sides in the division, fighting for the play-off places, so to go there and get the thr...

Harry Dimond As Leeds United gear up to face Paul Heckingbottom’s Preston North End, Leeds United fans might able to cast their minds back to his departure from Elland Road in 2018. Heckingbottom endured a short stint at Leeds before Marcelo Bielsa eventually began his memorable tenure. The Preston boss has had success stories elsewhere since his departure, as Sheffield United fans will respect their former manager. With Leeds needing a win vs Preston, Heckingbottom can haunt his former employers and provide a big blow to their promotion push. Heckingbottom enjoys watching Leeds play but made his feelings clear when he had to leave the club back in 2018, as he sent a message to former owner Andrea Radrizzani. What Paul Heckingbottom thought of Andrea Radrizzani at Leeds United Radrizzani certainly had his way of handling things uniquely at Leeds. After his failed tenure with the Whites, the Italian has not changed these ways, as Radrizzani’s Leeds stint was called ‘trul...

Harry Dimond Leeds United has yet to receive any answers to the controversy surrounding their 1-0 win at Middlesbrough. Although Daniel Farke’s side got back to winning ways, linesman Darren Williams took the spotlight. Leeds will be thrilled they got back to winning ways, but Ao Tanaka and Patrick Bamford’s goals being disallowed showed officials are way off it. There was fury over Tanaka’s offside, and Bamford’s wasn’t any better, as the Whites would’ve no doubt felt hard done by if they had dropped points. In good news, the EFL have demoted Williams, but insight has now been given into a secret phone call with the PGMOL. PGMOL break silence on Leeds United controversy It’s now been a bit of time since Tuesday night’s affair in what will be a memorable game in more ways than one for Leeds. The encounter clearly has found in place in the Whites boss’ head as Farke was fuming after the wrong decisions. His fury was there for all to see, and you can’t blame him for his...

The Leeds United manager hits a special landmark against Preston North End this weekend Leeds United have not lost at home in the league since September and so should be confident of beating Preston North End this weekend. The players will have noted last night’s result for Burnley and know that Sheffield United kick-off at Plymouth Argyle at the same time as them this lunchtime. They also know that victory over Preston today keeps them top. Every game they can remain inside the top two is a massive step forward with just four matches left after today, two of them coming at Elland Road. The midweek result against Middlesbrough was significant on many levels. Not only going top, but Tuesday saw Leeds record their first away win since that triumph over Sheffield United and their first away clean sheet since Watford in February. But they are now back on home soil, where they do their best work. Anything but a win will be disappointing and dangerous. Coping without James Daniel...

By Matt Scrafton Burnley survived a nervous finish to reclaim top spot in the fight for automatic promotion with a crucial victory over Norwich City. The Clarets looked to be on their way to a dominant three points following a one-sided first-half, with Hannibal and Jaidon Anthony both netting. Such was their level of control, Burnley’s lead at the interval ought to have been far greater. But Jack Stacey bundled home from close range 15 minutes to set up an anxious and edgy final few stages. While the hosts were unable to keep a clean sheet that would have equalled the all-time English record of 30, they held firm during the final moments to move back top of the Championship table - for now at least. More significantly, Scott Parker’s men now boast a five-point gap to Sheffield United in third, albeit the Blades still have a game in hand. Despite the quick turnaround, Parker opted to make just one change to his side from the midweek 0-0 draw against Derby County, as Hanni...

Leeds City Council and Leeds United's chief operating officer have both released statement ahead of the meeting Leeds City Council will brief its councillors on plans for Elland Road's expansion to be part of a wider regeneration project before being asked to approve the start of legal agreements at a meeting later this month. Land around the stadium is owned by the council and agreements need to be in place between it and the club before work can begin. The proposed vision for a rejuvenation of the Elland Road area includes potential new transport links and the “transformation” of local amenities. At a meeting on April 23, councillors will assess the plans including the proposed expansion to the stadium. Though the planning application references a potential capacity of 56,500, Leeds Live understands the club expects the final number to be around 53,000 amid the anticipation that planning factors will see the top-end range reduced. The council will also be asked to app...

By Charles Gray Full details of a major regeneration project that could see Leeds United’s iconic home ground Elland Road become one of the country’s largest football stadiums are set to be released. The full details of the project will be shared at an upcoming meeting of Leeds City Council’s executive board on April 23 and are set to include plans to transform the 30 acre site around the ground with the support of a Mass Rapid Transit link that will serve the southern area year-round. A package of ambitious proposals will be shared, including an imminent application from Leeds United to increase the famous ground’s capacity to up to 56,500, a move that, if approved, would see it join the ranks of the nation’s elite sporting venues. Land immediately surrounding the stadium is owned by Leeds City Council, meaning agreements will need to be in place between the council and the club before any expansion can begin. A report to the executive board details the potential of the club...

by Kwadwo Hemeng Leeds United have had a strong connection to Italy in the past few years. Two of the club’s majority shareholders in the past have been Italians. In 2014, Massimo Cellino and his family consortium Eleonora Sport Ltd agreed to purchase a 75% majority stake in Leeds United. The Football League rejected the proposal, but Cellino appealed the decision and eventually won. He took control of the club, and his time in charge was filled with controversy. Andrea Radrizzani was the next Italian to buy a majority stake in the club, acquiring Cellino’s shares and becoming the full owner. His time at the club was memorable, as Leeds bought back Elland Road and were promoted to the Premier League for the first time in decades. Now, Leeds United are in the news in Italy for the wrong reasons. According to reports from the region, a major betting scandal has been uncovered. Leeds defender Junior Firpo was named among up to 14 players set to be under investigation. Corriere del...