Leeds United

Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter

There is a huge chance this was not the last time Leeds United manager Daniel Farke sits before the media before a match this season with his side's automatic promotion hopes very slim and the play-offs looming.

The Whites have to beat Southampton at Elland Road (Saturday, 12:30 BST) and hope Ipswich Town lose at home to already doomed Huddersfield Town, to avoid extending their season.

Here are the key lines from Farke's news conference:

• Dan James remains sidelined while late calls will be made on Connor Roberts and Patrick Bamford who are major doubts.

• On supporting the players after form has dipped in recent weeks: "I don't have the feeling that players have let me down. When I signed the contract here 11 months ago, [it was] in order to create something special. My aim is to bring this club back to the Premier League, not just for one season. I want to make sure we are established. We are full of potential."

• He conceded he thought a return to the top flight was unlikely earlier in the season: "I would have said no chance of promotion, privately, in September. We did not buy success. I know it's more likely when you have experience. You know why Bayern is in the semis [of the Champions League]. They are experienced. Same with Real Madrid. They know you need experience. We are one of the youngest sides in the whole league."

• On how ready his team are to bounce back from the 4-0 defeat at QPR last Friday: "I never play psychological games. Friday we were far away from our best so we have to be even more critical. Players want honesty. But don't forget about the bigger picture of what the lads have done over the season."

• How much does the performance against Southampton - even if results do not go in Leeds' favour - show that his side can rewrite history and win a play-off: "This game feels like a play-off game. I'm not in depression mode. I'm really positive and optimistic. I'm excited about what lies ahead of us. We go for it. I'll try everything to surprise everyone. If this doesn't work, I'm excited then for the play-offs."

Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter

The equation is simple and stark. Regardless of whether Leeds United beat Southampton on Saturday at Elland Road, Ipswich Town will guarantee promotion to the Premier League by avoiding defeat at home by Huddersfield Town - who are effectively relegated because of their negative goal difference being significantly worse than their closest rivals.

So what does Leeds manager Daniel Farke do to close out the regular season in what has been an impressive first campaign in charge, regardless of the outcome? The Saints have known they were consigned to the play-offs since a 5-0 drubbing at champions Leicester last week, a result they followed up with a home defeat by Stoke. So there is an argument for their boss Russell Martin to rest players before the semi-final.

But while Farke has a chance of automatic promotion, surely he must go for it on Saturday no matter how unlikely the result is to go his way in Suffolk?

What is required is a performance to allay the worst fears of supporters after the abject display in the 4-0 defeat at QPR on Friday. The manner of it raised questions over the ability of the squad to handle the pressure situations despite having the quality to beat any team on their day.

Farke does not fear his players will choke. "No, today is right we are disappointed and critical with ourselves," he said after full-time at Loftus Road. "It's easy to be in a good mood and win all the awards when the sun is shining. Real character is in the tough days and there are not many tough days in this season with 90 points."

93 points, this century and beyond, has always been enough to go up from the Championship, so to miss out should they reach it would be extremely harsh.

The Leeds United shirt can weigh heavy on players, but so does the club's history when it comes to the play-offs. Barring an aberration at Portman Road on Saturday, it will be time for the latter to change.

Adonis Storr
Fan writer

Nerves and fear have spread through the Leeds United squad.

The Whites recorded their lowest points per game for a month this April and over the last five games, only Rotherham fared worse. From a club-record start to the year, Leeds have fallen apart as only they can.

"I'm not tempted to hammer the boys, we are playing a fantastic season with 90 points after 45 games," Daniel Farke said after Friday's capitulation in the capital against QPR.

The statistics are grim – seven goals conceded from an expected two over the last two matches, including conceding within eight minutes of the start from the first shot on target. But Farke is right to remind fans and players of an outstanding points tally which would normally have already seen them promoted automatically.

Sports psychologists' define a team-collapse as a combination of contagious poor-performance and emotions and key players faltering and blaming each other for mistakes. While the path out of bad form is visualising success and contagious positive emotions.

Leeds must forget the stakes and rekindle their confidence. As quickly as teams lose form, they can find it again, and they have the players to do it. And fans will play their part too, because belief is contagious.

Adonis Storr can be found at The Roaring Peacock, external

We are all Coventry City, are we not?

The team at BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast discuss what impact Leeds United's heavy loss at QPR will have on their automatic promotion hopes and what results they need to go their way this week.

That starts with Coventry hosting Ipswich Town on Tuesday, where a defeat for the Tractor Boys would give the Whites the upper hand for the last game of the season.

Listen to the latest episode of Don't Go To Bed Just Yet on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Leeds United saved their worst performance of the season for their biggest game of the season as they lost 4-0 at QPR on Friday.

"I can not remember the last time they imploded in such a way," said BBC Radio Leeds' Adam Pope on the Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast.

"It was so spectacularly bad. Everything I thought about their process this season was not there or did not work. I thought the front four would see them over the line but Joel Piroe's touch was dreadful.

"Nobody came out with any plusses.

"QPR were not overly physical but they were better with their game plan. They had intent and desire and were the better side."

The Whites now look increasingly likely to have to settle for a play-off place with Ipswich one point behind with two games in hand.

"No one was good," added Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix. "They [QPR] had their best game of the season and we had our worst."

Listen to a new episode of Don't Go To Bed Just Yet on BBC Sounds

We asked former Premier League midfielder Michael Brown his thoughts on current players hosting podcasts after West Ham's Michail Antonio accused Manchester United legend Roy Keane of having a "dinosaur mentality" for his views on the subject.

Pundit Keane told the Stick To Football, external podcast he believes the platform can be a "distraction" for players, "particularly if you’re on the back of a defeat".

Antonio co-hosts the Footballer's Football Podcast with Fulham captain Tom Cairney who replaced Newcastle striker Callum Wilson earlier in the role.

They are among sever high-profile current players to have ventured into podcasts, including Leeds striker Patrick Bamford who co-hosts My Mate's A Footballer with comedian Joe Wilkinson.

Brown's thoughts on this debate:

Players being on podcasts? It’s the world we live in. I understand the point regarding why the players are talking and what they’re talking about. We’re encouraged to be open-minded; we’re encouraged to come out and speak about things. Problems, positive things.

But I still think if edited correctly those talking points could actually be controlled. That is the key for me. If it is going to be done, it has just got to be watched over. There is fun and enjoyment, but it is not to be taken the wrong way, not to affect any performances or clubs coming your way or even your own club.

Unfortunately, it is not just Michail Antonio on a podcast, there are so many. Big players are into podcasts now and it’s not going away.

The point is not that it is a distraction. What brings it on you is when you’re quoted wrong or you have been discussing the wrong topic.

It is fine if you can do it and not have any of those problems – for instance if you are playing against another team and you said last weekend their striker has not been very good or the centre-back’s performances are not at a high level.

My point is the control and the management of the stories on the podcasts. It is fine to be done but they have to be managed correctly because any little thing can be spun when talking on an opponent or being critical of other players.

If you say, ‘well he’s just not scoring’ someone will come back and say, ‘you’re talking about him but you’re not putting the ball in the back of the net’.

The other point here is the reaction on social media, so you’ve just got to be spot on with it when you have your topics.

It is not going away - we want to hear them. Podcasts are here to stay.

Michael Brown was speaking to BBC Sport's Nat Hayward

Former Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch has been contacted by Canada about leading the national team into the 2026 World Cup. (Standard), external

Want more news? Read Friday's full gossip column

Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter

Leeds United face QPR on Friday in the Championship, kick-off 20:00 BST, knowing a second straight away win would move them four points clear of third-placed Ipswich Town, albeit the Tractor Boys will have two games in hand.

Daniel Farke faced the media on Thursday and here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Winger Dan James and full-back Connor Roberts are missing while Patrick Bamford (knee) is a major doubt. Farke said if the game was on Saturday or Sunday his striker would probably be fit.

• If he is not available, Farke said: "He will be a big miss. We can do nothing about the schedule. We have to adapt to the situation. We will see in the next 24 hours"

• On Joe Rodon (calf) and Sam Byram, who were doubtful but will be in contention: "We've put him (Byram) in the ice bath for the last 48 hours so he should be fine. Both of them should be fit and available."

• On the Whites' approach at Loftus Road: "It is important to be ourselves on the pitch. We have to be brave and fully convinced and stick to our beliefs. QPR are not playing like a team facing the drop. They are a possession-based side. You have to be brave to press this side."

• He backed his young players to be able to operate differently in the same match if required: "If you want to change your approach during an important game, you have to believe in your players. We are working on these topics on the training pitch. We can play in different set-ups - whether we have to switch from man to zone-oriented structure, sit deeper or the other way around. It's not that easy to get messages across during noisy games, but practise in training helps this."

• He will allow his players time to celebrate if they win, even though it would not guarantee promotion: "Yes, it is important to enjoy the moment a little bit, especially after an unlucky week with results. [It is] never easy to win the momentum back. To do this against a side on fire during the game and before in form. To do this on the road, we were all proud. Cannot beat that winning feeling."

• On whether playing first out of the promotion rivals helps Leeds: "If we win, yes."

A new series of the My Mates's A Footballer's podcast has landed.

Patrick Bamford and comedian Joe Wilkinson are reunited to discuss the work-life balance of a football manager as well as the ongoing loan spell of former Leeds midfielder Kalvin Phillips at West Ham.

Listen to the podcast here

Aston Villa are closely monitoring Leeds United's 22-year-old Dutch winger Crysencio Summerville. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer news? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter

Ten stone of barbed wire was how Leeds United's greatest player Billy Bremner was once described. He was as fierce as he was talented. His winning mentality and never-say-die attitude are embodied for eternity in an iconic cast of him celebrating on the corner of Elland Road.

Billy's statue, as it is known, is a place of homage for supporters who want their most successful captain's 'side before self, every time' mantra to forever be reflected by all Leeds United teams.

Those who gather around Bremner Square hope to witness this from the current crop of players, who - like Bremner when he first arrived at the club - are now looking to gain promotion to the top flight.

Bremner, who died at the age of 54 in 1997, has a legacy and an influence way beyond his early passing.

Some 772 appearances and 115 goals, many of them crucial ones, included winning every major domestic English honour, as well as European trophies. He is indelibly linked with the success of the most glorious period in the club's history.

Now, in his hometown of Raploch in Stirling, there are moves to raise £100,000 to have a new sculpture to encapsulate Bremner's spirit and inspire another community.

He won 54 caps for Scotland and Alexander Gibb of the Scottish Football Supporters' Association says it is time to commemorate him.

"He doesn't get as much recognition up here as he does in Leeds, especially as it's exactly 50 years since he captained Scotland to the World Cup in Germany," Gibb said.

"It's a brilliant opportunity to celebrate an amazing footballer and one of Scotland's best ever.

"He's seen as an inspiration to the people of Stirling. They've seen a local lad like him come through the ranks and make it to the very, very top of football."

The team at Don't Go To Bed Just Yet believe Monday's 4-3 win at Middlesbrough showed how powerful Leeds United's attack is and how boss Daniel Farke has done a great job this season.

BBC Radio Leeds sports editor Jonny Buchan said: "I thought it was going to be a continuation of the past few games. I had a sinking feeling when the first goal went in. Before the game, it was all about lack of goals as they dried up at the wrong time. That all went to the wayside. If Leeds go up it will be one of the most memorable games of the season. Daniel Farke has done an incredible job as he is the first manager in Leeds history to get to 90 points in his first season in charge."

BBC Radio Leeds' Adam Pope added: "The difference between Leeds and Leicester City is that Leeds have the star quality in front of goal. Under the cosh and away from home, Crysencio Summerville still produced - and that's why I think Leeds will go up."

And Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix said: "We over-performed on our xG but when we go toe to toe with teams we do beat them as we do have star quality. Our whole team stepped up and no-one had a poor game. If we lose any games from now, we are done so I could understand why there's so much pressure on the players but the goals gave them a bit more freedom."

Listen to a new episode of Don't Go To Bed Just Yet on BBC Sounds

Adonis Storr
Fan writer

For much of this season, Leeds United have employed possession-based tactics, but after Middlesbrough won the arm wrestle for the ball in a crazy first half at the Riverside Stadium on Monday, Daniel Farke's tactics changed.

“We said at half-time we don't want to be in a basketball game the whole match," striker Patrick Bamford said after the game.

"So it's like taking control - without the ball... and then we know we're one of the best counter-attacking teams in the league. Win any way possible."

Without a victory in three matches, United had been accused of being predictable and of having trouble breaking teams down that sit back against them.

But on Monday, the Peacocks showed a different way to win, and their efficiency improved as well - 62% of their shots were on target, up from an average of 17% over the previous two games.

It was substance over style and perhaps a glimpse at how Farke might set this team up in the Premier League – and after Monday's performance they can dream of promotion again.

It was a perfectly timed, resounding return to form as Leeds proved they can adapt to win.

Adonis Storr can be found at The Roaring Peacock, external

Leeds manager Daniel Farke reacts to Monday's 4-3 win over Middlesbrough: "First of all a good advertisement for Championship football, I think all the supporters have enjoyed the game.

"(It was) a great piece of football from two good sides who really went for it to win this game. To start the game with this unlucky goal, deflected pass that normally wouldn't have been a chance, they scored out of this.

"Middlesbrough played today with freedom because it was more or less their last highlight, they could go for it and had a really good shape, then they are 1-0 up after just a few moments.

"To show such a reaction in the first half to come back to create so many chances, to score fantastic goals, was great for us to have.

"Compliments to Middlesbrough, they showed a fantastic performance, but great mentality from our players to lead 3-2 at half-time.

"We needed to show some steel and resilience in the last minutes to dig in and grind out this important result for us and we did.

"Many compliments for the heart, the mentality and the character of our players today and for their offensive quality."

Leeds United are likely to accept offers close to £30m for winger Wilfried Gnonto, who is attracting interest from Premier League clubs. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer news? Read Monday's full gossip column