Leeds United boss Daniel Farke addresses top flight status after dramatic equaliser at Bournemouth — YEP 22/4/26

By Graham Smyth

Daniel Farke saw his Leeds United team reach 40 points thanks to Sean Longstaff’s rasping late leveller at Bournemouth.

Leeds United boss Daniel Farke is 'confident' his side will stay up after a snatch-and-grab point away at Bournemouth.

The German pointed out the poetic nature of the result, which mirrored exactly the way the first meeting at Elland Road went earlier in the season.

Bournemouth were the better side during the contest and 2-1 up as the clock ticked into the 97th minute.

Ethan Ampadu's long throw caused problems in the area and Sean Longstaff rattled in a full-blooded volley to level and move Leeds on to 40 points in the table.

Farke puts his confidence in his side's ability to add to that total and render themselves mathematically safe in the four league games still to come.

"I'm confident, I'm experienced and long enough in this business that we'll just celebrate when it's mathematically done," he said.

"We're on 40, seven unbeaten and why should we lose all the last games? It's a priceless point, the manner, we've won with fantastic football at times at Old Trafford, but today was a point of mentality, fight, belief, coming back from setbacks.

“They were 13 unbeaten, Iraola is leaving, the whole stadium wanted the win and they played very emotional. I was a bit reminded of our first game day, we were the better side at home and conceded the last-second equaliser. It was a bit like this. Many compliments to Bournemouth but the same to my players, I'm pretty proud of the performance. It puts us in a pretty good position."

As the sides came off the pitch at the end there was a stark contract between the body language of the hosts and the visitors, who celebrated in front of a packed away end.

Longstaff's late, late goal allows them to bounce into the weekend and an FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea. Farke admitted the manner in which they achieved the result will be beneficial for the dressing room.

"It feels like a win," he said. "This is sometimes more important than an easy cruise to 3-0. It's important for the group, for the spirit. To know we can't just win points when we're at our very best. In a scruffy game we can also fight our way to a point, this is what we've done. It's a perfect morale booster. Definitely good for us."

Jayden Bogle went off at the break for the visitors after a difficult first half and Farke said it was a combination of the wing-back's struggles and a 'hit' on his foot.

The manager was delighted that another of his changes, which introduced Lukas Nmecha and Willy Gnonto, played a part in Leeds coming back from 1-0 down.

"We decided to change our base formation to a back four," he said. "We were getting ready for the change when they scored and we thought one minute about doing something different after the goal but we stuck to the same idea.

“Thank God Willy had influence with the goal. It was difficult to match Bournemouth, there are many reasons why they're 13 unbeaten. We could have been a bit more aware when we conceded the second. To score in the 97th minute shows the belief is second to none. I have a great bunch of lads who never give up. I also believe in them."