Mighty Leeds Weblog

Fresh legs would help but that is not necessarily the main dagger that is killing Leeds United so late in games Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter Leeds United have been praised for their conversion from set-pieces this season and rightly so. Their tally of 13 is the same amount that they managed throughout the whole of last season’s title-winning Championship campaign. There is a reason why Leeds honed in on tall players this summer. Meanwhile, Anton Stach’s long-range missile at Aston Villa was their third direct free-kick of the season, having failed to register any last term. It would be remiss to brand United as set-piece merchants given that two-thirds of their goals have come from open play - and also because they have a problem defending them too, something that has perhaps escaped the attention somewhat. Leeds have conceded 12 times from set-pieces, only one fewer than the amount they have scored from dead balls. That is the fifth-highest in the league. Even more ...

Oh my god February 23, 2026 Written by: Rob Conlon When I close my eyes at night I dream of striking a football as sweetly as Anton Stach. From the daring of its imagination to the quite frankly sickening brutality and beauty of its execution, Stach’s free-kick at Villa Park is the type of goal I like to imagine myself scoring for Leeds United as I let my mind wander when I have more important things to do, or when I’m staring wistfully out of a train window, or when I’m sitting on the toilet. It’s the type of sensation I trick myself into remembering as the rare occasions I also connected with a football properly when playing in local parks with jumpers for goalposts or five-a-side halls growing up. Yet deep down, I know those moments were even fewer that I care to admit, and are undermined by the fact that almost every time it was a complete fluke, a brief accident courtesy of the law of probability. Anton Stach, on the other hand, meant it — and that meant it was all the m...

By Graham Smyth The YEP’s take and off-camera moments from Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Aston Villa. Leeds United fell just short of a famous away day victory in Birmingham but drawing with Aston Villa is no mean feat. There are far more winnable games on the horizon for the Whites, so taking a point away from Villa Park can be seen as a bonus. The problem is that until the 88th minute, Leeds were taking all three points home with them. Here's the YEP take. Good day Anton Stach Welcome back, Stach. As reminders go, this told everyone in no uncertain terms just how important the German has come to Leeds in the Premier League. He was everywhere. A menace. And that goal was a beauty. Goal of the Season for Leeds, perhaps. Ethan Ampadu He might not have had it all his own way after Ross Barkley came on but the skipper's performance was superb. Prior to the latter stages he was the dominant force in the game. Karl Darlow Exactly what Leeds needed against a team who can...

By Graham Smyth The Verdict on Leeds United's encouraging draw at Aston Villa that could have been so much more. Leeds United can afford to wonder 'what if' this season without losing their heads entirely but only because they're on course to keep the main thing the main thing. Aston Villa on Saturday presented one of the stiffest tests of the season. Third in the Premier League, just eight points behind leaders Arsenal with a game in hand going into the Villa Park clash with Leeds, the Villains squad is packed with individual quality and match winners. In Unai Emery they have a proven top-class manager and even when their performances don't sparkle they can come up with points, so they had every reason for confidence. That it took an 88th minute goal off Tammy Abraham's knee to rescue a point against Leeds speaks volumes about the newly-promoted side's competitiveness. That it took an 88th minute sucker punch to drop two of the three points Leeds he...

By Graham Smyth Daniel Farke saw his Leeds United side pegged back by an 88th-minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Aston Villa. Leeds United boss Daniel Farke says it's 'crazy' to come away from Aston Villa disappointed with a point, but a late goal gave him that feeling. The Whites were just minutes away from a famous win against the side sitting third in the Premier League when Tammy Abraham kneed the ball over Dominic Calvert-Lewin into the net to rescue a point for Villa. Leeds led from the 31st minute when Anton Stach stuck a 35-yard free-kick into the very top corner, catching Emi Martinez completely off guard. It could have been 2-0 when Jayden Bogle's cross found Lukas Nmecha in front of goal but his diving header was well saved. Villa also had chances and hit the post earlier in the game, but eventually broke through two minutes from the end to level. Leeds have conceded late goals in several games this season to deny them an even greater points tally,...

Aston Villa 1-1 Leeds: Tammy Abraham's KNEE rescues stuttering Villa after Anton Stach's 30-yard rocket - as Dominic Calvert-Lewin edges Ollie Watkins in World Cup race By NATHAN SALT - FOOTBALL REPORTER In an era of over-complicated set-piece routines and specialist coaches waving their arms around frantically in technical areas, this was an advert for putting it into dangerous areas and hoping Lady Luck is looking down on you. Set-pieces are so often the separator in matches now, especially in the Premier League where they are seriously in vogue. What started with Villa fussing with silly routines that amounted to nothing, ended with a deep corner to Ezri Konsa at the back post, who nodded down onto the knee of substitute Tammy Abraham to salvage what could well prove a precious point in the race for Champions League football. The action between those moments was largely dominated by a Leeds United side who defended like a side that was not coming here on the back o...

By Lee Sobot Leeds United took on high-flying Aston Villa at Villa Park. Leeds United bagged another point in their quest for Premier League survival but in the face of late heartache as Saturday’s clash at highflying hosts Aston Villa ended in a 1-1 draw. Villa made a bright start at a noisy Villa Park but Leeds created the first two chances of the game, both of them for striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The Whites no 9 was firstly played in by an Anton Stach header but his touch took him wide and the striker's shot was blocked off for a corner with nine minutes on the clock. A much better chance presented itself six minutes later as Jayden Bogle's pass sent Calvert-Lewin away but keeper Emi Martinez rushed out to save. Villa looked to respond but Leeds held firm and continued to create chances, Gudmundsson getting away but seeing his cross cut out. Leeds, though, were causing the hosts problem and Daniel Farke's side went ahead just after the half hour mark thr...

By Tom Coates Leeds United plan to emulate New York’s High Line as part of their ambitious Elland Road redevelopment, according to a report. It has been well-documented that Leeds intend on developing their iconic stadium to meet the rising demand for tickets. A forecast has indicated the project could generate around £29m for the Leeds City Region economy, with the stadium capacity expected to reach 53,000. However, it is not just a case of adding extra seats in LS11. There are plans to develop the areas around the stadium and it has been claimed the Whites are looking stateside for inspiration. According to Mail Online, plans to recreate a walkway similar to Manhattan’s famous High Line are progressing. The report has claimed there is a plan to develop a ‘sky park’ connecting the city centre to Elland Road on the Holbeck Viaduct. The High Line, a 1.45-mile long elevated linear park, greenway and rail trail, is a major tourist attaction in the United States. Significan...

Leeds United co-owner Jed York has been speaking about the stadium expansion and summer investment Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York has promised that there will “always" be investment for Leeds United, ahead of the summer and the Elland Road expansion project. United are due to start major construction on the stadium this summer, with preparation works already underway. Money spent on infrastructure does not count towards PSR and so will not impact club spending in the summer transfer window. Leeds co-owner York has reiterated that “there will definitely" be more funds for United to utilise in the market given the ambition to make Leeds a Premier League regular once again. And in the meantime, another goal is to make sure Elland Road remains the fortress it is amid the expansion to a capacity of 53,000. “There’s nothing like Elland Road,” York told Talksport at the Fanatics Red Carpet event in San Francisco earlier this month, w...