Leeds United

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  1. 'Time-wasting is not entertaining'published at 13:04 5 March 2024

    Adonis Storr
    Fan writer

    Leeds fan voice

    Everyone connected with English football has a love-hate relationship with the Championship. The games can feel like the antidote to the modern era - a purist's dream - no VAR, lenient refereeing, unkempt pitches and tiny grounds modestly full of only the most loyal supporters.

    Huddersfield away at midday on Saturday felt like that. Leeds came to play, Huddersfield to frustrate. In the Premier League, Huddersfield would undoubtedly have had fewer than the 10 men they ended with.

    "It was a difficult away game, a difficult pitch, and more or less the ball was never in play," Daniel Farke said of the West Yorkshire derby on Monday. Farke was referring to the reported 22 minutes the ball was actually in play during the 54-minute first half.

    Broadcasters, clubs, fans and the football authorities all agree that the sport should be as entertaining as possible. Time-wasting is not entertaining, not even for the purists.

    Leeds fans have asked for improvements to standards for decades, but Saturday's derby was evidence those calls have fallen on deaf ears.

    If the Championship is to grow as a brand, authorities must enforce rules that favour entertaining football.

    Adonis Storr can be found at The Roaring Peacock, external

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  2. 'Mental fatigue can affect performance'published at 17:04 4 March 2024

    After Leeds United's 1-1 draw against 10-man Huddersfield Town on Saturday, the Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast has been discussing the impact of fatigue on the side's performance after a busy week of big games, with Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix comparing it with a band being on tour.

    Media caption,

    Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

  3. Farke on team news, winning run ending and targetspublished at 14:46 4 March 2024

    Adam Pope
    BBC Radio Leeds reporter

    There is still time for Leeds United to break their club equalling record of nine consecutive league victories...

    After the draw at Huddersfield Town ended the winning romp, there are 11 Championship fixtures remaining, beginning with Stoke City on Tuesday. Always look on the bright side.

    Meanwhile, Daniel Farke has been speaking to the media before that game.

    Here are the key lines from his news conference:

    • He does not need to lift the dressing room despite the end of their nine-game winning streak: "We have a pretty young side and one that is experienced in winning recently. [But] I’ve said to never underestimate a point on the road. It’s a small step forward."

    • Indeed, Farke is taking the many positives from their form: "Overall we are in brilliant shape. There is no reason to dwell on the draw."

    • He wants to win every game, but knows home form could still be the clincher for getting them over the line: "If someone would guarantee me that we win all our home games and just have a draw in our away games. I wouldn't sign it because as I told you I want to win each and every game. But I think the outcome would please many, many people here around the club. If we do it like this, we will finish the season with 96 points. This is happy days."

    • In terms of team news, Leeds United will be without Jaidon Anthony who will be attending his mother's funeral and Jamie Shackleton who is undergoing concussion protocols respectively for tomorrow night’s visit of Stoke City.

    • Shackleton will also miss the trip to Sheffield Wednesday on Friday night. Meanwhile, left-back Junior Firpo is a doubt with a calf problem but Sam Byram is ready for more minutes now after recovering from a hamstring problem.

    Commentary of Leeds United v Stoke City will be available on BBC Radio Leeds from 19:45 GMT on Tuesday

  4. 'Hard work to watch' - assessing Leeds' derby drawpublished at 13:43 4 March 2024

    Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast image

    BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast has bemoaned the lack of football on display during Saturday's 1-1 draw with Huddersfield.

    Sports editor Jonny Buchan: "It was unbelievable wasn't it? The ball was only in play for 22 minutes in the first half, which of course was the least this season for Leeds in the Championship."

    Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix agreed: "It didn't really get the pulse racing. It was quite hard work to watch so commentating on it must have been an absolute nightmare. It seemed like the ball was never in play.

    "I was packing to go to London, I'd go off and grab something and then come back and see the same guy still on the same bit of floor!"

    Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

  5. Leeds 'finally looking like real contenders'published at 18:19 1 March 2024

    Lewis Deighton
    Fan writer

    Leeds fan's voice graphic

    It's been a fun week supporting Leeds United - beating top of the Championship Leicester City in dramatic fashion and going toe-to-toe with billion-pound Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

    Knowing that this Daniel Farke side is unfazed by the pressure of a big occasion, there was no doubt in my mind that we'd get the better of Leicester last Friday night - but the way in which we did made it all the sweeter.

    Teenage prodigy Archie Gray scoring his first professional goal for Leeds under the Elland Road lights, to put us ahead after trailing just three minutes prior, it's what football is all about. Moments like those are the ones you live for.

    The whole place was bouncing for those final 10 minutes. All four corners of the stadium completely unhinged. It's been a long time coming - finally looking like real contenders for automatic promotion. Full-time saw 35,000 Leeds fans belting out I Predict A Riot by Kaiser Chiefs, which topped off a spectacular evening.

    Having lost the League Cup final to Liverpool on Sunday, Chelsea were hit with the line "it's been Klopp's kids against the blue billion-pound bottlejobs", and on Wednesday night it took them all of eight minutes to be undone by 20-year-old Mateo Joseph – Leeds United's fifth choice striker, who cost £900,000 and went on to score a double.

    Academy graduate Gray was excellent once again, bettering Chelsea's midfield pairing of Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, who cost a combined fee of over £200m.

    I'm not disappointed, though. Even with a weakened Championship side we outplayed one of the Premier League big boys, and it was worth the 416-mile round trip to see us make that statement.

    Lewis Deighton can be found at LUFC Lewis, external

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  6. Farke on 'not natural' early kick-offs and potentially setting new club recordpublished at 18:49 29 February 2024

    Adam Pope
    BBC Radio Leeds reporter

    Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has been speaking to the media before his side travel to Huddersfield Town in the Championship on Saturday (12:30 GMT kick-off).

    United will break a 72-year-old club record if they take three points from The John Smith's Stadium by recording a 10th consecutive league win.

    The club's 12-match unbeaten run in all competitions came to a heart-breaking halt at Stamford Bridge after Chelsea came out on top by the odd goal with a late winner in a five-goal FA Cup thriller.

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

    • Georginio Rutter (hip) is available after missing the FA Cup tie at Chelsea. Patrick Bamford and Crysencio Summerville have trained. There is also a chance for Illia Gruev to be involved, providing he has no reaction to Thursday's session. There is a slight chance Joe Gelhardt (back) may have recovered in time. Jamie Shackleton (ill) is set to miss out again.

    • Playing early is a chance to put pressure on United's three closest rivals for automatic promotion, who play a few hours later. But Farke says the lunchtime kick-off does reduce preparation and recovery time after a tough night at Chelsea: "I don't like them. Some fans won't like them. There are early team meetings. The players have to eat at a strange time with their carbs and noodles at 8am. It's not natural."

    • However, he added: "We are used to it. The early kick-off is strange - but once you are there and you press the button, it's fine. Earlier kick-off allows you to get back to the sofa sooner."

    • On the possible new club record: "We are joint leaders [nine in a row]. I would take another win, not for the record books, but to improve our situation. The guys are on an amazing run. I want an amazing position after 46 games."

    • Asked what he knows about Huddersfield boss Andre Breitenreiter, Farke said: "We know each other very well. He's a very good coach and is a good signing for Huddersfield."

    • Breitenreiter has worked with United duo Willy Gnonto and Rutter. Farke is used to English derbies whereas Breitenreiter is not, but Farke said his opposite number knows all about these games in Germany when he was in charge of Schalke 04 and they played bitter rivals Borussia Dortmund.

  7. What are the no-nos in the Leeds dressing room?published at 16:37 29 February 2024

    My Mate's a footballer podcast

    Leeds striker Patrick Bamford answered some quick-fire questions on the United dressing room on the latest episode of My Mate's A Footballer.

    How long are you in the dressing room before a game? "General rule of thumb is an hour and a half before, but this year we do an hour and 15 minutes before."

    Where is the manager while you're getting changed? "In an away dressing room, he'll be sitting there doing whatever he's doing. In the home dressing room, he'll be in the coaches' room until he has to come in and do the chat."

    Are there any no-nos in the dressing room? "The only rule is not to be on your phone in terms of texting and calling. If you're watching videos to help you with the game or listening to music, that's allowed."

    Who cleans the mess in a dressing room? "It's the kit men, but the players who are the last ones out the shower, or last ones getting changed, will help."

    Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

  8. Youngsters come of age on centre stagepublished at 13:42 29 February 2024

    Adam Pope
    BBC Radio Leeds reporter

    Expert view

    Archie Gray has been making headlines since the weekend after continuing a family scoring legacy for Leeds United dating back to New Year's Day 1966 - when his great uncle, Eddie, opened his account for the club, to be followed by grandfather Frank and his own dad, Andy, in the decades to come.

    Five days later, the 17-year-old's commanding display in the middle of the park at Stamford Bridge - in his natural position having played full-back for most of his breakthrough campaign - proved he is capable of playing against top-flight opposition in Chelsea.

    He dominated the midfield against Argentina's World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez and Ecuador international Moises Caicedo in the 3-2 FA Cup defeat, after which his manager, Daniel Farke, added: "To convince me I didn't need to see him as I knew before he could deliver a top performance.

    "But, I think for his development it was important that he could prove to himself he could be there with an outstanding performance, even on this level against these top-class players."

    The same can be said of 20-year-old striker Mateo Joseph, who scored two stunning goals to kick off his senior club tally. His movement and aggression were matched with two clinical strikes, and they looked to be enough to take the tie to extra time before substitute Conor Gallagher settled it in the last knockings.

    Like Gray, Joseph is part of the England youth set-up and felt he should have had a hat-trick. "I think I could have scored another one but it's getting even better every day and trying to improve that," he said.

    That attitude of self-improvement will hold him and Gray in good stead.

    Joseph revealed the pair of them had an embrace at Stamford Bridge after the game reflecting on the progress they are making.

    "We said: 'Remember when we were playing here with the 21s?' Hopefully it's a long journey with him and we can bring to the club big things and so many wins."

    Not just the club but the country look to have a bright future ahead with such talent emerging.

  9. 'Gave a good battle' but can now 'concentrate on promotion'published at 08:39 29 February 2024

    Your views graphic

    We asked you for your thoughts on Wednesday's FA Cup tie between Chelsea and Leeds.

    Here are some of your comments:

    Kev: Boys done us proud. We went toe-to-toe with one of the heavyweights of English football and did us proud. We were certainly the best team in the second half and was cruelly denied the chance to win it in extra time.

    Alan: Fantastic performance, looked totally at ease with a Premier League team, would have been nice to have won, but delighted to be out so we can focus on promotion!

    Eric: I think that Leeds came out in their usual style and attacked and deservedly went ahead. However, once Chelsea got their second I thought the lads looked heavy-legged and second-best to most 50/50 chances. After the break they came out fighting, but they need to have more finesse on the ball and be more clinical with their chances.

    Joseph: I was at the Bridge and we gave them a good battle, and showed what we are capable of. Huge shoutouts to Archie Gray and Mateo Joseph who were excellent. Sad to go out of the FA Cup, but a blessing in disguise as we can fully focus on the promotion battle now.

    Tim: Thought Leeds played really well throughout but I’m partly pleased we can now concentrate on winning the Championship

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  10. Full-time: Chelsea 3-2 Leedspublished at 21:35 28 February 2024

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    Conor Gallagher scored a last-minute winner as Chelsea snatched a dramatic victory over Leeds United to move into the FA Cup quarter-finals.

    A thrilling fifth-round tie at Stamford Bridge looked to be heading towards extra time before the England international was free in the penalty area and lifted a finish past Illan Meslier.

    The win keeps Chelsea's hopes of winning a trophy alive after they lost 1-0 to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday.

    Mauricio Pochettino's side will return to Wembley for the FA Cup semi-finals if they win at home against Championship leaders Leicester City in the last eight in March.

    Were you at the match or did you follow it from home?

    Chelsea fans - let us know your thoughts on the game here

    Leeds supporters, tell us what you made of your team's performance

    Follow all of the reaction here

  11. FA Cup quarter-final drawpublished at 19:08 28 February 2024

    FA Cup quarter-final draw: Wolves or Brighton v Coventry City, Forest or Man Utd v Liverpool or Southampton, Chelsea or Leeds United v Leicester City, Man City v Newcastle United

    The draw for the FA Cup quarter-finals has been made, with the ties set to be played on the weekend of Saturday, 16 March.

  12. Follow Wednesday's FA Cup ties livepublished at 18:33 28 February 2024

    Fixture graphic showing Chelsea v Leeds United, Nottingham Forest v Manchester United, Wolves v Brighton and Liverpool v Southampton

    There are four games being played in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Wednesday and we will bring you every moment.

    Follow all of the action and reaction here

    All times are GMT

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  13. Chelsea v Leeds United: Sutton's predictionspublished at 12:57 28 February 2024

    Sutton's Predictions image

    Chris Sutton is making predictions for all of the FA Cup fifth-round matches, against Kaiser Chiefs bassist and Leeds fan Simon Rix.

    Sutton's prediction: 2-0

    Chelsea really need to win this, after the way they lost the Carabao Cup final on Sunday. It was their display in extra-time that let them down against Liverpool's kids, when they had the chance to really have a go at them.

    Leeds are going very well under Daniel Farke, but he might prioritise their promotion bid over this tie.

    I hope he doesn't, but this is one of the rare occasions where I would understand if he makes some changes because of how tight it is at the top of the Championship. They have got Ipswich and Southampton breathing down their necks, but will also feel like they can catch Leicester.

    It is really unfortunate, because otherwise Leeds could have a real go at this. The pressure is all on Chelsea and, if they don't win, it is really going to mount on their manager Mauricio Pochettino.

    I remember being part of a Chelsea team that lost 2-0 to Leeds at Stamford Bridge in the year I was there. Thinking back, it was probably largely down to me.

    I'm going with the same scoreline again, but a home win this time.

    Simon's prediction: 1-2

    I really don't know what to go with here.

    As well as thinking I would quite like Leeds to get knocked out, I also feel that Chelsea had picked up quite a lot recently before the Carabao Cup final and seemed to be just starting to click. They might be dispirited after losing at Wembley, but maybe that defeat means they think they've got to win the FA Cup now.

    So, it's whether to be realistic here or do I just go for it? You sometimes see mascots being asked what the score will be before games and they say "1-1" and I'm thinking well, you're eight-years-old, you should be going for a 4-0 win or something.

    It's different for me but I suppose if the question is, "Do I think Leeds can beat Chelsea?" then yes, I think we can beat them. We are on such a brilliant run.

    Go on then, I'm going to go for it and say we will win.

    Read all of Sutton’s predictions for the fifth-round ties here