Mighty Leeds Weblog

By Stuart Rayner "People are always telling me Leeds don't do things the easy way." If James Justin did not believe them then, he certainly will after the last two games. But here's the thing: Leeds reached a first FA Cup semi-final in 39 years, then won a league match at Old Trafford for the first time in 45. Neither were as comfortable as they ought to have been. Leeds were 2-0 up at West Ham United after 90 minutes yet had to ride their luck just to make it to a victorious penalty shoot-out. At Old Trafford on Monday they were 2-0 up again, playing ole football against 10 men. A 21-pass move shortly after Lisandro Martinez’s red card was not quite Southampton 1972 (YouTube it) but the identity of the opponent made it sweeter. Having to endure a ferocious fightback in a final half-hour that was more like basketball but where only Casemiro got on the scoreboard perhaps made the win more valuable than the history or even the league table would suggest. ...

By Stuart Rayner Leeds United rewrote another bit of club history at Old Trafford on Monday, but manager Daniel Farke urged them to "stay humble" until the real celebrations can start. Because whilst Farke is enjoying the ride, he will not be happy until they reach their destination – Premier League survival. Leeds are six points clear of the relegation zone, with four of their remaining six matches against teams below them in the table, after their 2-1 win at Manchester United. Supporters of a club who had not won a league game at Manchester United since 1981 were elated to inflict a first home defeat on their fierce rivals since Michael Carrick was appointed manager. But in Farke's eyes it makes Saturday's visit of Wolverhampton Wanderers, who could be relegated that day, one of Leeds' most difficult this season. "I'm staying humble, not being overconfident and celebrating already," he insisted after two first-half Noah Okafor goals saw...

By Graham Smyth Leeds United’s history boys keep adding to the growing list of achievements under Daniel Farke and what they did to Manchester United at Old Trafford will be remembered for years to come. Manchester United have not taken it very well with strong complaints about the referee and VAR from their manager, players and ex-players since full-time. But in stark contrast to the hysteria on that side of the Pennines, there’s a warm glow over West Yorkshire. Here’s the YEP take on what transpired on Monday night in Manchester. Good day Daniel Farke. He got Leeds up, he's guided them into an FA Cup semi-final and in ending a 45-year wait for a league win at Old Trafford he's put the Whites in a great position to keep them up. Farke likes talking about creating bits of history and in the space of eight days he and his players have managed it twice. Their first FA Cup semi-final since 1987 and a first away win in the league against Manchester United is the stuff of dr...

By Graham Smyth The Verdict on Leeds United's momentous 2-1 win at Old Trafford. When you wait 45 years to beat your most bitter rivals in the league on their turf the manner of victory matters little but Daniel Farke's Leeds United fully deserved their bit of history - their latest bit of history. A point would have been a fine result at Old Trafford for a relegation-threatened side sitting just three clear of the drop zone. After all, Manchester United were flying under Michael Carrick. Third in the table and looking to consolidate their Champions League spot, the hosts were playing their first game since March 20 so could either be described as rested or rusty. Leeds, on the evidence of their start and subsequent performance, were ready. Farke went with a line-up with some intent about it. Ao Tanaka retained his place in central midfield after doing well in the FA Cup and with Brenden Aaronson, Noah Okafor and Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the side Leeds had some pace, po...

Manchester United 1-2 Leeds: Daniel Farke’s side picked up their first league win at Old Trafford since 1981 to take a huge step towards survival Richard Jolly at Old Trafford A terrible night for a relegation-threatened team who play in white. Although that team, admittedly, is Tottenham Hotspur. For Leeds United, this was a seminal, spectacular evening; a historic one, too, though even the significance of a first league win at Old Trafford since 1981 felt less immediate than the growing probability they will stay up. But for Michael Carrick and Manchester United, even a rousing attempt at a rescue act could not alter the combination of a wretched first half and a dreadful result. It was compounded by the consequences, with Lisandro Martinez’s comeback short-lived as he was sent off for grabbing Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair. Just when it seemed they were certainties to qualify for the Champions League, Manchester United contrived to inject an element of doubt. Carrick lost his 1...

By Stuart Rayner Leeds United conjured up a classic of a game to win at Manchester United for the first time in the league since 1981. With an hour gone, it really should have been a gentle procession to victory. The Whites were two Noah Okafor goals up when Lisandro Martinez was sent off for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin's pony tail of all things. Within no time Leeds were playing ole football lapped up by the away end. Yet a team who threw away a two-goal lead at West Ham United eight days earlier very nearly did so again. All's well that ends well, perhaps, but the Whites made a dog's dinner of a big win for them. The 2-1 success took them to 36 Premier League points and with three home games left, they should get to safety. But then they should have cruised to victory on Monday night. Nothing is ever simple with a football club who really should carry a health warning rather than a sponsor's logo on their shirts. This game was like going out for on...

Man United 1-2 Leeds United: Rusty Red Devils made to pay for utterly shambolic errors in front of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, writes CHRIS WHEELER - with the writing on the wall for £50m man By CHRIS WHEELER, NORTHERN SPORTS WRITER Mankind had successfully travelled around the far side of the moon – and could feasibly have done so again – during the 24-day break since Manchester United last kicked a ball in anger. Four blank weekends had passed across an international break and a pause for the FA Cup quarter-finals that allowed last night’s opponents Leeds to maintain some match sharpness while United were at a training camp in Dublin. It’s the kind of interruption that can either allow teams to refresh and refocus on the final leg of the season, or it can knock them off their stride at a crucial point of the campaign. On a wildly unpredictable night at Old Trafford, United discovered to their cost that it was the latter. A second defeat in 11 games under head coach Michael Carrick...

By Lee Sobot Inside Elland Road: Historic FA Cup moment Leeds United resumed their Premier League survival bid with Monday night’s clash against fierce rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford. Leeds United gave themselves an enormous boost in their quest for Premier League survival as a brilliant brace from Noah Okafor sealed a 2-1 win at arch rivals Manchester United for a first league win at Old Trafford since 1981. Swiss international attacker Okafor was one of three Leeds injury doubts for the contest but all three of them started and two excellent Okafor finishes in the first half ultimately gave his side a massive three points. A dominant Whites could and should have been out of sight at half time and again after Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez was sent off midway through the second half for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair. Despite having a man less, the Red Devils set up a grandstand finish as Bruno Fernandes teed up Casemiro to start a potential comeback...

By Graham Smyth The YEP’s take and off-camera moments from Leeds United’s incredible FA Cup quarter-final at West Ham. Leeds United are going to Wembley after a madcap FA Cup quarter-final win over West Ham United. The Whites threatened to throw away a glorious chance to make some history, squandering a two-goal lead, before holding their nerve to win it on spot-kicks. Here's the YEP take. Good day Pascal Struijk The defender has been at Leeds for eight years so if anyone in the dressing room knows what this means, it's him. The pressure was on him for that deciding spot-kick and though he evidently didn't mean to hit the post, he found the net to put his club in the FA Cup semi-final. The shootout and subsequent history achieved rendered worthwhile the joy-to-despair journey he and his team-mates went on in this quarter-final. And that moment, running to the away end, will live with him forever. Lucas Perri We can talk about the wobble, because there was on...

By Graham Smyth Daniel Farke saw his Leeds United side come through a remarkable FA Cup quarter-final epic at West Ham after extra-time and penalties. Leeds United boss Daniel Farke says FA Cup penalty hero Lucas Perri is an example of how the club should be in their relegation fight. The Whites booked their place in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, where they will take on Chelsea, after a madcap victory over West Ham United in London. Leeds did it the hard way, squandering a two-goal lead in the 11 minutes of time added on at the end of the second half. Ao Tanaka's first half opener and Dominic Calvert-Lewin's penalty were cancelled out by Mateus Fernandes and Alexi Disasi on 93 and 96 minutes respectively. And when extra-time failed to separate the sides, it took penalties. Lucas Perri was the hero for Leeds, saving from both Jarrod Bowen and Pablo before Pascal Struijk stroked the deciding penalty in off the post. Farke acknowledged the difficulties Perri has had in...

By Graham Smyth Daniel Farke saw his Leeds United side come through a remarkable FA Cup quarter-final epic at West Ham after extra-time and penalties. Leeds United boss Daniel Farke says FA Cup penalty hero Lucas Perri is an example of how the club should be in their relegation fight. The Whites booked their place in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, where they will take on Chelsea, after a madcap victory over West Ham United in London. Leeds did it the hard way, squandering a two-goal lead in the 11 minutes of time added on at the end of the second half. Ao Tanaka's first half opener and Dominic Calvert-Lewin's penalty were cancelled out by Mateus Fernandes and Alexi Disasi on 93 and 96 minutes respectively. And when extra-time failed to separate the sides, it took penalties. Lucas Perri was the hero for Leeds, saving from both Jarrod Bowen and Pablo before Pascal Struijk stroked the deciding penalty in off the post. Farke acknowledged the difficulties Perri has had in...

West Ham 2-2 Leeds a.e.t (2-4 on penalties): Lucas Perri was the hero as Leeds reached the last four in dramatic fashion Andy Sims Leeds reached an FA Cup semi-final for the first time in 39 years – but only via a penalty shootout after they blew a two-goal lead in stoppage time. Thousands of West Ham fans left early as the clock ticked round to 90 minutes after goals from Ao Tanaka and Dominic Calvert-Lewin put Leeds 2-0 up. But those who left prematurely missed a cast-iron cup classic, starting with an astonishing comeback as goals from Mateus Fernandes and Axel Disasi forced a 2-2 draw and extra time. They also missed 20-year-old fourth-choice goalkeeper Finlay Herrick thrown on for his debut in the shootout after Alphonse Areola went down injured at the death. Herrick saved the first spot-kick from Joel Piroe, but Leeds keeper Lucas Perri denied Jarrod Bowen and Pablo to send Leeds through 4-2 on penalties. There was controversy after Leeds were told the shootout coul...

By Lee Sobot Leeds United took on West Ham United at the London Stadium for a place in the FA Cup semi-finals. Leeds United booked their place in the semi-finals of the FA Cup for the first time since 1987 after coming through an absolute epic quarter-final at West Ham on penalties. Leeds made a very bright start and only a fine save from Alphonse Areola prevented the Whites from going ahead with just three minutes on the clock, Areola getting down quickly to tip a low shot from Noah Okafor just wide. Leeds were well on top but the Whites yet two particularly good early saves from keeper Lucas Perri were needed to prevent the Irons from going in front. Daniel Farke's Whites, though, looked more likely to open the scoring and did just that in the 23rd minute through a lovely move finished off by Ao Tanaka. West Ham were largely only threatening on the break but Leeds themselves should have doubled their advantage as Okafor led a counter and played in Anton Stach. Stach...

By Stuart Rayner Leeds United are through to their first FA Cup semi-final since 1987 but Storm Dave could not have made heavier weather of it. ​After 90 minutes, Leeds’ place at Wembley was all but booked. The huge numbers of empty seats around the London Stadium showed how many Hammers fans had given up hope and headed for the exits. With Dominic Calvert-Lewin rediscovering his form from 12 yards, it looked like fringe players Ao Tanaka and Willy Gnonto had put Leeds into their first FA Cup semi-final for four decades only for West Ham, who had hit a post at 1-0, to score twice in three minutes of stoppage time. West Ham then had two goals rightly disallowed for offside, and the second after hitting the woodwork for the third time in the game. Yet somehow, Leeds scraped through 4-2 on penalties for the second time in three FA Cup ties, with Lucas Perri saving twice. For a long time it had looked like the Whites' miserable record in London and their inability to kill g...

By Kyle Newbould The Leeds United boss went strong for his side's FA Cup quarter-final trip to the London Stadium. Daniel Farke pointed to the extended gap between Leeds United fixtures either side of West Ham in the FA Cup as one reason to name a strong starting-XI. The Leeds boss went strong for Sunday’s trip to the London Stadium, handing first FA Cup starts all season to the likes of Joe Rodon, Anton Stach and Jayden Bogle. Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Brenden Aaronson were the only first-team outfielders benched, while Gabriel Gudmundsson was absent through injury. Gudmundsson reported a minor groin problem ahead of Sunday’s game, having played twice to help Sweden secure a World Cup spot during the international break. The left-back has not been risked, while right-winger Daniel James is set to miss a couple of weeks with a groin strain. It’s been two weeks since Leeds drew 0-0 at home to Brentford and while a number of first-team regulars were on international duty, f...

Leeds United striker Lukas Nmecha believes the club's FA Cup run this season has been "really good" for the players and says "the goal is just to win" against West Ham on Sunday afternoon to seal their spot in the semi-finals. The 27-year-old is also looking forward to playing in front of the club's 9,000 travelling fans at London Stadium, despite the stands being "quite far away from the pitch". "This season has definitely been relentless," Nmecha told BBC Radio Leeds. "We've had to rotate a lot in the cup competitions to reduce the load on the players who are playing more in the Premier League. "But this FA Cup run has definitely been really good for the squad. We've maybe seen a slightly different style of football in the cups compared to the league, and we've shown that we are still able to do the things we were doing last season. "It is important to take games as they come and to not read into them ...

By Lee Sobot Leeds United face Nuno Espirito Santo’s West Ham side for a place in the FA Cup semi-finals. West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo has delivered his Leeds United verdict with a strong and determined declaration about Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final against Daniel Farke’s Whites. The Irons have emerged as key rivals in United’s bid for Premier League survival, West Ham third-bottom in the table but still only four points behind Farke’s Whites. The two teams, though, will now first and foremost lock horns for a place in the FA Cup semi-finals on Sunday, Santo declaring that his team’s full focus is on this weekend’s quarter-final despite a huge league clash at home to Wolves on the horizon next Friday night. Predicting a “very intense match”, the Irons boss also served up praise for Farke’s side. "We play one game at a time, and we prepare for one game at a time,” said the Irons boss at his pre-match press conference, as quoted by West Ham’s official website. “S...

Jack Harrison interview: New York to Florence, via Leeds and Liverpool, the winger speaks to Henry Winter about his well-stamped passport, Bielsa, NYC, and the future aged 29 and on loan at Fiorentina By Henry Winter The Englishman is enjoying his Italian exchange, despite missing the atmospheres and stadiums back home Florence is the perfect city for a renaissance. Jack Harrison certainly hopes so. On loan at Fiorentina from Leeds United, the 29-year-old winger enjoys strolling through the famous city and meeting enthusiastic La Viola fans. “Some of the Ultras recognise me straight away,” Harrison says, “and they're like, ‘die’, ‘die’ (come on, come on)! Let's go, andiamo’. It's a nice energy!” They can see Harrison working hard to help Fiorentina slowly rise away from the fringes of the Serie A relegation zone and also to a Europa Conference League quarter-final against Crystal Palace. “It reminds me a little bit of New York, the energy and the passion the peo...