Leeds United produced a sensational display at Elland Road tonight, brushing Newcastle United aside 4-1 to move to third in the Premier League table after four games.
The hosts were in complete command during the opening 45 minutes and found the net three times before the break. It was the first time in 25 years that Leeds had scored three first-half goals in a Premier League fixture at Elland Road, giving the home fans plenty to celebrate.
Ao Tanaka broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute when his effort took a wicked deflection and beat the Newcastle goalkeeper. Jayden Bogle then doubled Leeds’ advantage, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin following up just before the break to make it 3-0 before half-time.
There was little sign of Leeds slowing down after the restart. Noah Okafor added a fourth just before the hour mark, putting the result beyond any realistic doubt and sending Elland Road into party mode.
Newcastle did manage to find a late consolation through Bazoumana Toure in stoppage time, but the goal was merely a blemish on an otherwise outstanding Leeds performance.
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Daniel Farke left fuming by Leeds United mistake
The Sky Sports commentary team and the studio picked up that the Leeds boss was not entirely happy at the end of the game after his team conceded a late goal.
Don Goodman said on commentary: “I have seen Daniel Farke’s reaction down here on the touchline, and he is fuming that his team have let go of their clean sheet.
“I think there is a miskick in there, and it’s from the centre-back Muharemovic, who has not put a foot wrong all night.
“But it comes in, he has a swing and gets it all wrong, and it lands at the feet of Toure who sorts out his feet and puts it in via a deflection.”
Sky Sports presenter Dave Jones added: “You can see Daniel Farke there, who is not completely happy with his players at full-time.
“This is becoming a theme this season, managers after they have won still gathering players and he clearly feels that final goal could have been avoided.”
Farke has conceded that he feels terrible that his team allowed Newcastle to score to spoil a perfect performance at home in the Premier League.
Farke said on Sky Sports: “For each manager, it’s a nightmare to concede so late after a performance like that.
“We allowed them to score; it doesn’t take anything away from us. My boys were brilliant, a perfect start.
“Even in a perfect performance, there’s always something to moan about; this was definitely one of the rare points I have to criticise.”
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Farke can be mightily pleased with his team
Losing out on a clean sheet has definitely disappointed the Leeds manager, especially after such an enthralling performance at home against an established Premier League side.
However, Farke has every reason to believe that his Leeds side are going places and can improve on last season’s 14th place finish in the Premier League.
They are third in the Premier League table and can now have legitimate thoughts of finishing in the European spots at the end of the season.
