Wilfried Gnonto moment vs Brighton typifies Leeds United spirit amid gesture to Daniel Farke — Leeds Live 18/5/26

Leeds United never do things the easy way but under Daniel Farke, they make a way

Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter

This season has been one of grit, resilience and showing teeth. Daniel Farke has engineered a side that the Leeds United fans love to get behind - one that fights to the end and thereby represents the club in the best way.

It might not always be pretty but it gets the job done. Leeds started the season with a grinding 1-0 win over Everton and ended it with an attritional 1-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion yesterday.

The Seagulls were playing for something, needing a win to keep their outside Champions League hopes alive. That made the result all the more pleasing, and it showcased United’s mentality given they themselves had nothing to play for.

This was best typified by Wilfried Gnonto - who has had limited game time this season with interest from Freiburg sure to be the first of many summer enquiries - heading away a vital header towards the end.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been integral to this season and it was fitting that it was he who got the winner to take his tally up to 15. The win also means Leeds have the chance to get 50 points on the final day - a magnificent milestone if it can be reached.

Anton Stach injury

There is worry over Anton Stach after the midfielder was taken off on a stretcher with an ankle issue following an opponent falling awkwardly on his leg. The German initially writhed around in pain and needed extensive on-pitch treatment.

However, he went to the touchline and after a chat with Daniel Farke clearly felt he could play on. He ran about a bit and even took two corners, but only after telling Gnonto to signal to the bench that he needed to be taken off.

In the end, he went down to the turf and required a stretcher to take him off, potentially damaging his hopes of a spot in Germany’s World Cup squad. It’s rotten luck and rotten timing.

“I hope it's not too bad, but it was very painful for him,” said Farke afterwards. “I haven't spoken to the medical department. Obviously also the World Cup is around the corner, so fingers crossed it’s not too bad.

“But I would be just guessing for me to tell you something about the injury. It's an ankle injury but we have to wait for the medical team says.”

Brenden Aaronson - also set for a home World Cup with the USA - went off too but Farke outlined that this was only a dead leg.

Farke reception after Friday’s comments

Farke has set his stall out in Friday’s press conference, to a certain extent anyway. A lot of loose ends remain untied regarding what may happen if summer talks with the board do not go his way, though he is confident they will.

He wants the club to be ambitious and the 49ers are expected to match that, though how his comments went down in the boardroom is something to muse over. Truthfully, Farke has public opinion on his side - underscored by in-game chants and the pre-game cheer for his name - and he has played his cards in this light.

The reception from Elland Road as he walked around at the end of the game for the end-of-season lap of honour was loud with his name being sung by the fans. That in itself is a message to the board following the reports about his position last summer. This summer, he holds the cards.

Goodbye to players

The day saw the fans wave a fond farewell to a number of players during the end-of-season lap of honour. Sam Byram - who was serenaded as he came out to warm up in the first half - is expected to leave, despite Farke stating that his future had “yet to be decided”.

For him to play the pass that led to Jan Paul van Hecke’s mistake for Calvert-Lewin to steam in and tuck the ball home with the goalkeeper at sea was like a “fairytale”, in the words of Farke. Byram later pushed reserve goalkeeper Alex Cairns - also out of contract - out in front of the South Stand to give three cheers.

Colleague Illan Meslier also sees his deal run dry, though his goodbye was always going to be more subdued. Karl Darlow is also due to see his contract end but he did not cut a figure who was saying his goodbye, with renewal talks anticipated.

Joel Piroe - last season’s Championship top scorer - still has a year left on his deal but is widely expected to leave having not started a league game since August.

He came on midway through the second half and almost scored within a few phases, curling an effort just wide of the post. Not quite a fairytale ending for him at Elland Road, but he has made his mark during his stay.