Leeds United overturned a first-half deficit to claim a 3–1 win over Derby County in the third round of the FA Cup, advancing to the next stage and showcasing the squad’s depth.
Daniel Farke’s side found themselves 1–0 down at half-time at Pride Park after Ben Brereton Díaz struck for the hosts, but the visitors emerged with far greater purpose after the restart.
Wilfried Gnonto brought Leeds level in the 55th minute before Ao Tanaka netted the winner shortly afterwards, completing a quick-fire comeback that secured passage to the fourth round. James Justin added a third in injury time.
Despite rotating his team, Farke’s players responded impressively to the early setback, seizing control in the second half and avoiding a potential FA Cup upset.
Robbie Savage was more than happy to take digs at Leeds during the break. However, the story changed at the final whistle.
Leeds United made Robbie Savage eat his words
The former Manchester United and Blackburn midfielder was having fun at Leeds’ expense during the break, when an upset seemed on the cards.
He stressed that Leeds were the better team, but aimed a sly dig by pointing out the ‘bigger club’ in Derby was leading the FA Cup tie.
Savage said on TNT Sports at half-time: “Leeds have been the better side, but inevitably the only stat that counts so far is the biggest club one, Leeds nil.”
The ex-midfielder was forced to eat those words when Leeds scored three goals in the second half to romp to a comfortable victory at Pride Park.
He conceded that Leeds looked the better team and played well despite making all those changes to their starting eleven and system.
He was forced to back-track at the final whistle, and he said: “Leeds were fantastic, you know the players that came into the side, eight changes, the substitutions, every single Leeds player played their part today and thoroughly deserved the victory.
“They were the better team…you can see the celebrations now, great away following.”
Read more: Robbie Savage makes bold Leeds United claim
Leeds have been proving everyone wrong this season
Chris Sutton predicted Derby County to cause an upset today as he felt Leeds would not have managed to hold on to their intensity from the Premier League games.
The former striker was proven wrong, and they are now in the hat for the fourth round of the FA Cup draw on Sunday evening.
Leeds have been doing the same in the Premier League this season. They were handpicked to get relegated before the start of the campaign, but everyone is now backing them to stay up.
Farke and his Leeds players deserve huge plaudits for the way they have turned the season around from the dark days of November, when they looked certain to go down.
However, it has also been fun to see pundits go back on their Leeds prediction, and Savage is not the first one to eat his words on the Whites.
