Work to be done for Leeds in survival fight, says Farke despite Wolves win - European Football

DESPITE moving eight points clear of the Premier League trapdoor after a 3-0 home win against rock bottom Wolves, Leeds United boss Daniel Farke believes there is still work to be done to avoid the drop.

The victory took the Whites on to 39 points – eight clear of Tottenham, who occupy the last relegation place with five games to go, while West Ham and Nottingham Forest also remain in the scrap to keep up.

A delighted Farke said: “It’s a fantastic position to be in but the feeling is we probably need to win one or a few more points. We will stay focused and want to win one or a few more points as soon as possible to have it mathematically done.”

Unchanged United, fresh from their brilliant win at Old Trafford, made it back-to-back league wins for the first time this season, with victory against relegated Wolverhampton.

Farke’s men delivered a rapid one-two in the first half, James Justin’s brilliant overhead kick followed 85 seconds later when Brenden Aaronson’s perfectly delivered cross was swept in at the back post by Noah Okafor.

Leeds made a fast start, visiting goalkeeper Dan Bentley denying Dominic Calvert-Lewin with a brave block. The Wolves man also did well to save Ethan Ampadu’s effort from point-blank range seconds before he was beaten by the impressive Justin’s 18th-minute bicycle kick.

Wolves barely had time to clear their heads when Okafor – the two-goal hero at Manchester United – rattled in his seventh league goal of the season.

However, the home fans’ expected goal feast didn’t materialise as Leeds’ intensity dropped.

Despite the double punch to the guts, Wanderers climbed off the canvas and managed to take the game to Leeds more than several other sides have done at Elland Road this season.

Calvert-Lewin had to clear off his own line, Karl Darlow produced a world class save from a Ladislav Kreji header and Adam Armstrong had a goal disallowed for offside as Leeds, particularly in the second half, started to labour.

However, the visitors simply didn’t have a cutting edge and although Leeds were not at their sharpest in the second period, they were largely in control and wrapped up the points in stoppage time.

Substitute Willie Gnonto’s curving pass put Calvert-Lewin through but the striker was pushed over in the box. United’s top scorer picked himself up and netted from the resulting penalty.

At the final whistle Leeds were nine points clear of Tottenham, who faced Brighton in the Saturday tea-time game.

Spurs were on the brink of victory and cutting United’s advantage to six points when former Leeds man Georginio Rutter scored a 95th-minute equaliser to deliver a major blow to Tottenham’s survival hopes.

Leeds play the first of their remaining five league games at Bournemouth, who are chasing a European spot, on Wednesday night before their Sunday FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea at Wembley ahead of a return to Elland Road against relegation-haunted Burnley on Friday, 1 May.