Leeds United responded with a gritty 1-0 victory over Fulham at Elland Road on Saturday, a result that kept their eight-point buffer above the relegation places intact.
The hosts dominated large portions of the game but looked set to be held to a frustrating stalemate until the dying moments. Lukas Nmecha eventually broke the deadlock in stoppage time, scoring a dramatic late winner to secure all three points.
Daniel Farke and his players celebrated at the final whistle after a resolute home display, another performance that strengthened confidence that Premier League survival remains firmly within their grasp.
The result was also important for Nmecha, whose glorious finish earned the win for the home side, and the forward has sent a direct message to the manager after his heroics.
Lukas Nmecha has indicated to Daniel Farke that he wants to start more games for Leeds United
Daniel Farke has opted to start Brenden Aaronson alongside Dominic Calvert-Lewin at the top despite having two more strikers in his squad this season.
Nmecha has only been getting an opportunity to come on from the bench since his return from injury, and he needed that goal against Fulham to reestablish his credentials.
The striker arrived on a free transfer in the summer, and while not being prolific, he has scored some important goals for the Whites this season.
He insisted that earlier in the season, it was proven that he can play alongside Calvert-Lewin as a front two, and conceded that while he is working hard, it is up to the manager to select him in starting elevens.
Nmecha told reporters after the Fulham game: “I think we’ve proven that we can play together.
“We played together for a few games, starting with the Man City game [on November 29], and then obviously I was out for a bit.
“But yeah, I’m just getting my head down, doing what I can do. The rest is not up to me.”
Nmecha deserves another crack in the starting eleven
Nmecha is not the most elegant of strikers and can often look clumsy on the pitch, especially because of his inconsistent first touch.
However, he has the knack of popping up with important goals and against Manchester City in November, he showed that he and Calvert-Lewin can form a bruising strike partnership.
| Goals | 1 |
|---|---|
| Expected goals (xG) | 0.38 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Expected assists (xA) | 0.00 |
| Total shots | 3 |
| Shots on target | 2 |
| Expected goals on target (xGOT) | 0.89 |
| Shots blocked | 0 |
| Big chances missed | 1 |
Even Alan Shearer has indicated that he was wrong about Nmecha earlier in the season and praised him for getting that all-important goal against Fulham.
Aaronson has looked good in recent weeks, but he can easily drop back in favour of Nmecha partnering Calvert-Lewin up top in the upcoming games.
The former Manchester City striker has done enough to get another chance to start games and show his true quality to the Leeds supporters.
