Tanaka sends Leeds five points clear in dramatic late win over Sheffield United — Guardian 24/2/25

Aaron Bower at Bramall Lane

The night Leeds United’s season swung decisively, or just another evening in the most unpredictable league in football? Only in May will we know that answer for sure, but the scale of the celebrations from those associated with Leeds here perhaps told you everything you need to know.

The popular song aimed in Leeds’ direction when things are going wrong is to decry that Daniel Farke’s side are falling apart. But here, when it mattered most, this team showed that they are anything but one that capitulates in the crucial moments.

It looks increasingly like this club and their manager will again be a Premier League side next season. Last week, they dug deep at Elland Road to score twice late on and overturn a losing position against Sunderland. That was monumental, but this was on another level and has ramifications for the whole promotion race, not just Leeds.

Having fallen behind after a horrendous error from Illan Meslier, who somehow palmed the ball into his own goal, Leeds were arguably fortunate not to be further in arrears after being dominated by a Sheffield United side who, at that point, were heading top and about to end Leeds’ 15-game unbeaten league run.

But having ridden out a storm, Leeds delivered when they needed to for the second Monday night in succession. If you had offered them a draw when Junior Firpo equalised with 18 minutes left, and a two-point lead at the top, maybe a Leeds team of years gone by would have taken it. But not this side, who are built to go to the very end.

Ao Tanaka turned home a Joe Rothwell corner as injury time approached before Joël Piroe’s long-range strike turned the promotion picture on its head. Just 18 minutes earlier, Sheffield United were going top, and Leeds had just a four-point cushion to third-placed Burnley. Now, that gap is seven, and the Blades are only two clear of Scott Parker’s side. It was a seismic evening.

“It’s a priceless three points,” Farke said. “It was the worst possible start, but the reaction they showed was outstanding. We want to make sure we keep winning points and end in the best possible position. I’m very proud of the boys.”

The one blot on the night: the news that their captain, Ethan Ampadu, will require knee surgery after missing this game.

While Farke, his staff and his players were able to bask in the celebrations with the travelling Leeds support at full time, the mood was markedly different for Chris Wilder. His team fully deserved to lead when Meslier produced a horrific piece of goalkeeping, turning the ball in after Tyrese Campbell had headed against the right-hand post from barely a foot out.

They could, and perhaps should, have gone further ahead. And you did wonder whether their profligacy would come back to haunt them against this Leeds side. That emphatically proved to be the case and with a trip to Burnley still to come, Sheffield United may now have to seal their own Premier League return the hard way.

“It was a tight game,” Wilder said. “Congratulations to Leeds United, they’re a top side. We had to produce a top performance and we just fell a little bit short.”

Farke, who was serving a touchline ban following his third yellow card of the season, saw his substitutes be instrumental in transforming this pulsating Yorkshire derby, spearheaded by Rothwell’s introduction in the 58th minute. The 30-year-old changed the outcome of the game and added real energy to Leeds’ midfield. He was involved in the equaliser too, as Dan James’s cross was met by a superb header from Firpo.

And as the final minutes approached, only one side looked like winning. It was a stark contrast to most of the first half, with the hosts well on top, but after Michael Cooper produced a wonderful save to deny Willy Gnonto, he was powerless to prevent Tanaka from heading home at the far post after Rothwell’s corner had been knocked down by Firpo.

Leeds then sealed matters as Piroe brilliantly struck from long range to spark wild scenes. It was Farke’s German counterpart, Jürgen Klopp, who coined the term mentality monsters to describe his great Liverpool side. It is a characteristic you can put against a team who look increasingly certain to be heading back to the Premier League next season.