Mighty Leeds Weblog

By Stuart Rayner Only one team can stop Leeds United winning promotion to the Premier League in May but that team is Leeds United, and they have history. On paper at least, they have the title race’s gentlest run-in with Middlesbrough and Bristol City the only current top-half opposition still to tick off. But a bumpy start at home to Swansea City brought the demons are out in force again. Next come Luton Town, 23rd in the Championship but fifth in the five-match form table, seven places above Leeds. It kicks off at 12.30pm. Leeds even have a hang-up with that. In February, the Whites looked imperious, unstoppable. There were crushing wins – Cardiff City and Watford – but also late ones – Sunderland and Sheffield United – the mark of champions. March is the month doubt crept in – beaten at Portsmouth, points dropped to West Bromwich Albion, Queens Park Rangers and now a 2-2 draw with Swansea. When you messed up last season's run-in and lost the play-off final, never mind ...

By Graham Smyth The YEP’s take and off-camera moments from Leeds United’s 2-2 draw against visiting Swansea City. Leeds United returned from the international break in almost the worst possible fashion as they twice threw away a lead to draw with Swansea City. The performance and the manner in which they conceded did little to quell the building nerves ahead of the promotion run in but it was at least a point. Here's the YEP take on a day of poignant moments and hectic football. Good day Willy Gnonto The injury fears have been mostly allayed because he was fit enough to play some part and his impact was immediate and vital. It should have been the winner. With a good week of training at Thorp Arch surely the Italian will be unleashed at Luton. Bad day lllan Meslier It doesn't really need explaining, but it does need actioning. So much of what he did was good up to the 64th minute but yet more high profile errors have cost Leeds again and his position in the ...

By Graham Smyth Illan Meslier did everything right for 64 minutes and then it all went wrong as Leeds United and Daniel Farke were reminded yet again that it's all about how you finish. There is no escaping or avoiding the inevitable in any discussion of the 2-2 draw with Swansea City. Meslier was, again, individually at fault in a manner that cost his team. What has happened before happened again, leaving Farke lost for the words required to explain it the inexplicable dropping of a routine catch that gifted the Swans their first, or the inability to save a shot that should be saved far more often than not. That one, in stoppage time, cancelled out what should have been a Willy Gnonto winner and led to boos at the full-time whistle and beyond. Goalkeeping mistakes are punished and scrutinised more ruthlessly because they happen so close to goal but there was no sympathy to be found on the faces of his team-mates or in the stands. But the blood of two dropped points was not s...

Boss Daniel Farke has said he is "100% convinced" that Leeds United will play in the Premier League next season, despite missing the chance to go back to the top of the Championship. Zan Vipotnik's 96th-minute equaliser earned Swansea City a point from a 2-2 draw at Elland Road, leaving Leeds two points behind Sheffield United, who took over as leaders after beating Coventry 3-1 on Friday. Leeds were five points clear of the Blades after winning at Bramall Lane late last month. But after collecting only six points in five games since, Farke's side now find themselves second, only ahead of third-placed Burnley on goal difference. "We have gone many, many steps and right now it's the final step. That's always the most difficult," he said. "There's never a guarantee of success but we have been in this situation before. "I know how tricky it sometimes is to lead from the front but also what is necessary to bring it over the line...

A point each at Elland Road. Leeds United returned from the international break to face Swansea City at Elland Road in the Sky Bet Championship, which saw both teams take a point from the game. Prior to kick-off, both teams came together to observe a minute of applause in memory of Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight, as we approached the 25th anniversary of their tragic passing. Ethan Ampadu and Ben Cabango, the captains of each side, laid a wreath each in memory, whilst the crowd all stood together in applause. When the whistle sounded for kick-off, the Whites wanted to start the game quickly and did just that! After 35 seconds played, Daniel Farke’s side would go ahead with the first attack of the match. After plenty of pinball and deflections around the box, the most alert to tap home at close range was Brenden Aaronson! Swansea looked to hit back instantly themselves though and had a big opportunity to do so from the penalty spot. Joe Rodon was the player adjudged to have...

By Graham Smyth Daniel Farke remains '100 per cent convinced' that Leeds United will play in the Premier League next season, despite a recent wobble. A 2-2 draw with Swansea City at Elland Road made it six points from the last 15 and boos greeted the performance at full-time. Though many of those still left in the ground applauded as Farke and his players made their way around the pitch, boos were again audible from various parts of the stadium. Leeds started with a bang but ended with a whimper, throwing away three points and having to settle for one. Brenden Aaronson's 35th-second opener was cancelled out in the second half when Illan Meslier dropped a corner under no pressure, allowing Harry Darling to level. Leeds substitute Willy Gnonto appeared to have won it for the hosts with his strike in the 86th minute but a poor concession of possession in stoppage time, an inability to get a challenge in and Meslier's failure to save a strike hit from an acute angle a...

Leeds United missed the chance to go back to the top of the Championship Leeds United manager Daniel Farke could not hide his disappointment after his side missed the chance to go back to the top of the Championship. The Whites made a dream start at home to mid-table Swansea City, taking the lead after just 35 seconds. Brenden Aaronson bundled the ball in from close range to claim his ninth goal of the season. It was the perfect response from the USA international to those who have criticised his lack of end product in the final third. But the visitors could have levelled things up in the 14th minute when they were awarded a penalty after Joe Rodon was penalised for a foul in the box. Much-maligned goalkeeper Illan Meslier came to the Whites' rescue, pulling off a fine stop to keep out Josh Tymon's low spot kick. United were lucky to be ahead at the break after a poor, disjointed display. Meslier went from hero to villain in the second half. Moments after making a great...

By Lee Sobot Leeds needed to beat Saturday’s visitors Swansea to return to the top of the Championship. Leeds United blew the chance to return to the top of the Championship as a late double twist after an Illan Meslier clanger and penalty save led to a 2-2 draw against Saturday's visitors Swansea City. The draw has prompted the huge change of leaving Leeds second on the same amount of games played as new leaders Sheffield United and third-placed Burnley who are now only behind the Whites on goal difference. A 1-0 win for Burnley from Saturday’s hosting of Bristol City took the Clarets level on points with Daniel Farke’s Whites who are now two points behind the table-topping Blades with seven games left. Leeds made a flying start and went ahead with just 35 seconds on the clock as Brenden Aaronson hooked the ball home from close range. Jayden Bogle had got himself clear down the right flank and Swansea failed to clear his low cross from which Joel Piroe saw two attempts...

By Stuart Rayner Ilan Meslier had spent 63 minutes proving why his status as an Elland Road terrace pariah was unfair and a matter of seconds proving – twice – why it was not. You're still thinking about the bad news, aren't you? Such is the lot of a goalkeeper that the Frenchman kept his side in the game after taking a 35-second lead mired them in lethargy. But when they finally got out of the blocks in the second half, he undermined a brilliant save by gifting Swansea City an equaliser seconds later. And when Willy Gnonto looked as if he had scored a dramatic 86th-minute equaliser having only come on in the 85th, Meslier let a Zan Vipotnik shot through his body in the 96th, leaving his side to settle for a 2-2 draw. It is why, if Leeds do make it to the Premier League, they will have to leave him behind. That is still in doubt, with Leeds only in the automatic promotion places on goal difference after Sheffield United and Burnley won this weekend. As the home ...

By Graham Smyth Leeds United defender Joe Rodon has sent a message from the squad to the grieving families of Christopher Loftus and Kev Speight as the club marks 25 years since their murders. Saturday's game at Elland Road against Swansea City will be dedicated to the memory of the pair, who tragically lost their lives in Istanbul on April 5 2000. Both families will be represented in the ground, there will be a tribute before the game and Leeds fans will turn their backs on the play in the 25th minute as has become an annual tradition. Rodon says Chris, Kev and their loved ones will be in his and his team-mates' thoughts as they prepare to take on the Swans. He said: Today as a squad we will remember Chris and Kev. Our fanbase is special and the tragedy of what happened 25 years ago is in all our thoughts today. I want to send my best wishes from all the squad to the family and friends, we will give everything today like always, to do you all proud. We will never forget....

By Leon Wobschall DANIEL FARKE believes that a full house of Elland Road wins in Leeds United’s final four Championship matches of 2024-25 will secure them automatic promotion back to the Premier League. The first of those quartet of games takes place on Saturday afternoon against a Swansea City side managed by ex-Leeds defender Alan Sheehan. United’s other remaining fixtures on home soil are against Preston, led by former Leeds head coach Paul Heckingbottom, Stoke City and Bristol City. Leeds have the best home record in the division, with 15 wins from their 19 games so far, with just one loss. A victory against the Swans would see them break the half-century of points mark so far this term. On whether wins in those appointments in West Yorkshire would be enough to deliver a top-two finish, Farke, whose side are pitted in an intense three-way fight with Sheffield United and Burnley, said: "Yes, I think so. Because four wins would take us to 92 points and after the four ...

By Leon Wobschall MANY of the special promotion stories begin with heartache and tears. Leeds United know a bit about that from the past. From that crushing play-off denouement against Derby County at a stunned Elland Road in May 2019 - the sight of Pontus Jansson sitting alone on the pitch in front of the East Stand amid the pits of despair afterwards is burned into the soul of many - to redemption and silverware at the end of the following campaign. Other clubs have completed similar journeys. From play-off torment to glory in the space of a year. Middlesbrough captain Grant Leadbitter watched rivals Norwich City lift the Championship play-off trophy at Wembley after a defeat in May 2015 and stored it in the memory banks to serve as inspiration. Boro were promoted in the following season. A Leeds lad in David Stockdale did something similar after Wycombe’s Wembley loss to Sunderland in the League One showpiece in 2021-22 in his final game as a Chairboys player. He found a...

By Leon Wobschall FRIDAY could well be a significant day in the Championship run-in for Leeds United - and it has nothing to do with what might be happening down the M1 at Bramall Lane either. Leeds winger Willy Gnonto, whose exhilarating performance from the bench provided the main positive on a testing afternoon for the promotion-chasers at a nemesis venue in QPR prior to the international break, looked to have surely put his hand up for a first league start of 2025 ahead of this weekend’s game against Swansea. Unfortunately, a slight ankle injury sustained in action for Italy under-21s against the Netherlands last Friday saw him return from international duty early. United head coach Daniel Farke rates him as ‘50-50’ to be involved against the Swans. Much will depend on how he fares in a ‘final test’ in full training at Thorp Arch today. Should Gnonto pass with flying colours, then the German will have a decision to make. One thing is for sure, Farke will not let his heart...

Old School Written by: Anthony Crewdson At the beginning of the 1980s, Leeds was a city in a state of flux. The decline in traditional heavy industries contributed to high unemployment and economic stagnation, leading to a widespread post-industrial malaise. At the same time, the fortunes of Leeds United were on wane. The club slipped apologetically out of the old First Division after eighteen seasons at the end of 1981/82 — a pale shadow of the team that had dominated English football less than a decade earlier. Don Revie’s team might have epitomised the Dirty Leeds tag, but under Allan Clarke they barely laid a glove on their opponents. The final game of the season at the Hawthorns was marked by crowd trouble as Leeds fans sought to get the game against West Brom abandoned. The only resistance seemed to be confined to the terraces, symptomatic of a dark period in Leeds’ history. Eddie Gray took over an unbalanced and somewhat ageing squad. The team he inherited lacked firepow...

By Graham Smyth Whites boss Daniel Farke has been discussing his Leeds United striker options. Leeds United boss Daniel Farke says Patrick Bamford and Harry Gray both have chances of involvement but he's in no rush to throw either striker into his starting line-up. The international break has seen the attacking pair in action on the training pitches at Thorp Arch. Bamford, 31, is available once again after a hamstring injury that has kept him out of action since New Year's Day, while 16-year-old Gray is training with the senior side and scored in an inter-squad game last weekend. Farke's attacking options were the envy of almost all other Championship clubs even while Bamford was out injured. Joel Piroe has 15 goals and six assists with Mateo Joseph as his main competition for the number 9 role, while wingers Dan James, Manor Solomon, Willy Gnonto and Largie Ramazani would walk into many of the division's sides. But Leeds' German manager has often lauded...

By Graham Smyth Leeds United have confirmed a season ticket price hike as the renewal process begins for those eligible. Supporters who have not yet met the 80 per cent attendance threshold will have to wait until they reach it to renew their tickets but for those who have attended or transferred their ticket for 18 or more league home games this season the renewal process begins on Thursday at 10.30am. The YEP understands the delay in starting the process this year was related to the attendance threshold. Elland Road chiefs have told fans that their attempt to 'gradually' equalise pricing so that supporters seated in the same Elland Road sections pay the same price is to continue and the cost of season tickets is to go up. According to a club statement the percentage of the price rises will depend on the pricing tier but supporters holding a season ticket for the longest tenure will still pay the lowest prices for 2025/26. The new pricing structure will have just two tie...

By Joe Donnohue Leeds United's Welsh international contingent ensured spirits will remain high as they return to Thorp Arch this week following a last-minute draw with North Macedonia. Wales salvaged a stoppage time draw courtesy of AFC Bournemouth midfielder David Brooks' strike in Skopje on Tuesday night to preserve Craig Bellamy's unbeaten record as national team boss. North Macedonia had gone a goal up with only minutes of the match remaining, Bojan Miovski delivering what looked to be the decisive blow. However, Wales struck back through Brooks to remain joint top of World Cup qualification Group J alongside the Eastern European nation. Daniel James was substituted on 63 minutes, while Joe Rodon received a yellow card in the match as Wales drew 1-1. Karl Darlow started in goal for the second consecutive game, after donning the No. 1 jersey for a 3-1 victory over Kazakhstan last week. Former Leeds man and Elland Road favourite Ezgjan Alioski also appeared fo...

Will Butcher Dan James and Gjanni Alioski never crossed paths at Leeds United but the two did face each other on Tuesday night, as Wales and North Macedonia played out a 1-1 draw in Skopje. A cult hero at Leeds United, Gjanni Alioski spent four years with Leeds having joined the club in 2017 from Swiss side FC Lugano. He went on to play 170 times for Leeds in a few positions, scoring 22 goals. But he left the club on a free transfer in the summer of 2021, opting to move to the Middle East with Al Ahli. That summer, Leeds spent a whopping £25m to sign Dan James who has also remained four years. The two never played together at Elland Road but they did go face to face on Tuesday night, as Craig Bellamy maintained his unbeaten start to life as Wales manager – but only by the skin of his teeth. James was a livewire throughout, as Wales were the better side despite being away from home. But they could not force their way through a stubborn North Macedonia defence, Alioski impressi...

By Kyle Newbould Leeds United have eight games to decide their Championship promotion fate. Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman still believes Leeds United will be promoted for one simple reason - they are the Championship’s top team. Leeds are top of the Championship going into the final eight games, despite a drop in form that has seen them take just five points from their last four games. Daniel Farke’s side were tipped to pull clear of the pack following wins over Sunderland and Sheffield United but their previous five-point gap disappeared in the blink of an eye. The March international break is hoped to have provided an opportunity to reset at Leeds, with a boost arriving in the form of Ethan Ampadu’s imminent return to team training. And EFL pundit Goodman expects Farke’s squad to attack the run-in with the mentality of being the Championship’s best. Don Goodman backs Leeds United’s promotion chances "What happened last season and what they experienced should stand th...

Will Butcher Leeds United’s 16 players have largely enjoyed a very successful international break, but for Wilfried Gnonto, things have not gone to plan with the Italian picking up an injury. Mateo Joseph, Sam Chambers, Diogo Monteiro, Dan James and even Rasmus Kristensen have all scored goals while Ao Tanaka helped Japan qualify as the first country to do so for the 2026 World Cup. A successful break then so far, with Leeds’ Wales trio winning on Saturday night. But for Gnonto, it has not gone to plan. The Italian might have been hoping for a start when returning to Leeds after the break. But he was subbed off at half-time during Italy U21’s loss to The Netherlands on Friday, with Adam Pope reporting Gnonto had suffered a muscle injury. Now, Italy’s official website have delivered an update. Ahead of schedule, Italy’s website have confirmed that 13-time Italy star Gnonto is “unavailable” for the second match of the break in which Italy’s U21 side take on Slovakia in Cittadel...

By Graham Smyth The work of supporters and support from within Leeds United has helped bring 'enormous' change for LGBTQ+ supporters at Elland Road and earned the club a national award. Marching Out Together was set up six years ago by Andrew Tilly and Drew Harrison, who after 30 years of being Elland Road season ticket holders wanted to try and make the ground feel safer for LGBTQ+ fans having themselves not felt comfortable discussing their personal lives with those sitting around them. "Drew and I are both gay, long standing friends, and had been season ticket holders for around 30 years," Andrew told the YEP. "We’d been sitting in the same seats for probably 20 years. The people around us were lovely. We chatted about football and listened to them talk about their families and lives. But we never ever mentioned our respective partners or the fact that we were gay. We just didn’t feel comfortable doing it. We didn’t know how they would respond. We were c...