Leeds United 3 Burnley 1: Whites on brink after star's brilliance cuts open Clarets amid shocking calls — YEP 1/5/26

By Lee Sobot

Leeds United took on Burnley under the Elland Road lights knowing a win would put them on to 43 points.

Leeds United put themselves on the cusp of guaranteed Premier League survival with three games left as brilliance from Anton Stach paved the way for a 3-1 win at home to Friday night’s already-relegated visitors Burnley.

Daniel Farke’s Whites went into the contest sat six points clear of the drop zone with four games remaining but knowing that a win would send them nine points ahead of third-bottom Tottenham Hotspur who visit Aston Villa on Sunday night.

An already relegated Burnley side lined up at Elland Road with a five man defence but a brilliant long range strike from Stach gave the Whites an early lead from which they did not look back, Noah Okafor and Dominic Calvert-Lewin netting after the break to create a 3-0 cushion.

Burnley staged a late late rally and the lively Loum Tchaouna pulled a goal back but Farke’s side had already done enough to seal a hugely important victory in the face of some very poor calls from referee Thomas Bramall who was booed off at the break.

Ultimately, though, the night belonged to Leeds who also jumped above Newcastle United into the 14th place on 43 points, albeit having played one more game than the Magpies who are now one point behind them.

Roared on by a very noisy crowd, Leeds made a bright start, Noah Okafor crossing for Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the first minute but Calvert-Lewin unable to get a header at goal.

A crunching firm but fair tackle from Pascal Struijk on Zian Flemming then helped set the tone, Leeds quickly on top but facing a wall of Burnley players as the Clarets lined up with a back five.

Anton Stach, though, quickly found a way to beat that with just eight minutes on the clock, the midfielder receiving a Jaka Bijol pass from 25 yards out and taking one touch before arrowing a very precise low shot into the bottom right corner of the net.

Leeds quickly pressed for a second, Calvert-Lewin fouled for a free-kick which Stach sent over the bar.

Superb pressing from the excellent Stach then set up a chance for Ao Tanaka who blazed over from the edge of the box.

Stach was everywhere, the German then surging his way into the box and combining with Jayden Bogle before attempting a shot in a crowded box which was deflected over for a corner with Burnley survived.

Burnley couldn't get out although Pascal Struijk was then booked for pulling back Loum Tchaouna as the Clarets looked to get up the pitch just before the half hour mark.

Burnley then started to enjoy a bit more possession but that ended as James Ward-Prowse sent a cross into the area which Karl Darlow easily gathered.

Back up the other end, a lovely cross into the area from Okafor had Burnley scrambling about to defend, the ball cannoning back off James Justin and into the arms of keeper Martin Dubravka.

After earlier bookings for Burnley pair Bashir Humphreys and Loum Tchaouna, Joe Rodon received a yellow card for clipping Jaidon Anthony as he broke from a corner, taking the card count to four despite a mild mannered game.

But the Elland Road crowd were then left furious with referee Thomas Bramall just before the break, Ao Tanaka shoved over by Flemming on the edge of his own box but no free kick and Burnley countering and almost scoring, Tchaouna's cross setting up Jaidon Anthony whose goalbound header hit Flemming on the back.

The first then ended with two more half chances for Leeds, a Justin shot saved and Stach firing over, the half-time whistle greeted by boos for referee Bramall.

There were no changes during the break, after which Burnley began on the front foot, the lively Tchaouna racing away down the right and sending in a dangerous cross to which no one was able to get on to.

The Clarets worked the ball back to Ward-Prowse whose dipping shot was easily saved by Darlow.

Another ridiculously soft yellow card followed for the slightest pull back on Humphreys from Calvert Lewin who looked very bemused by the decision.

But within the space of eight minutes it was party time inside Elland Road as a rapid double salvo put Burnley put of sight and 3-0 down after goals from Okafor and Calvert-Lewin.

Calvert-Lewin made the first with a brilliant run down the right and clever back heel to Bogle who sent in a perfect cross to the far post where Okafor arrived on the scene to fire home a clinical half volley into the bottom right corner.

Then, just four minutes later, Burnley cleared an Ethan Ampadu long throw but only to Tanaka whose fierce shot from the edge of the box was saved by Dubravka but parried back into the box, Calvert-Lewin just beating Bijol to bundle home from close range.

Burnley were being battered an attempt to head clear a Stach cross from Kyle Walker then dropped narrowly over his own bar.

Moments later, Okafor was subbed to a standing ovation as Lukas Nmecha was brought on.

In a rare attack, Burnley had the ball in the net in the 69th minute through Lucas Pires but the Clarets substitute was just offside and VAR intervened to keep the Leeds clean sheet, for now.

But that changes a few minutes later as Tchaouna was played in and turned Struijk before thumping home a powerful finish.

Leeds were getting a bit ragged but another shocking call from referee Bramall saved the Clarets in the 80th minute, substitute Sean Longstaff stealing the ball off Hannibal on the edge of the box to leave Calvert-Lewin but Burnley given a free kick.

But Leeds were heading for three points and surely survival, chants of Daniel Farke's name echoing around the ground as the clock ticked towards the 90th minute.

A chance for a fourth Leeds goal went begging in the 86th minute as a Longstaff corner presented a free header for Rodon whose effort was saved, after which Hannibal got away with a yellow card for a nasty challenge on Brenden Aaronson.

Amid eight minutes of added time, Burnley pressed hard for a second goal and ex-Leeds loanee Anthony squandered a great chance after heavy Clarets pressure, firing over from close range in a crowded box.

Leeds, though, could have then bagged a fourth as late substitute James raced away only to see his shot saved.

The game went to nearly 100 minutes but eventually Bramall blew his whistle with Leeds now on the brink of sealing survival and Farke’s name again ringing around the terraces as the players lapped the pitch.