Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has called for calm after his side’s 3-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest left them just one point clear of the Premier League relegation zone, with sections of the away end venting their frustration toward the team.
Goals from Ibrahim Sangaré, Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson condemned Leeds to a second straight loss, despite Lukas Nmecha giving them an early lead from a Brenden Aaronson assist. It was a result defined by individual errors — Lucas Perri’s parry for the opener, Jaka Bijol’s lapse on Gibbs-White’s header, and Jack Harrison’s late penalty concession — that all increase pressure on Farke amid growing fan unrest.
‘Small details’ cost Leeds in defeat
Speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post after the match, Farke acknowledged the supporters’ anger but insisted that composure, not panic, was required.
“*It’s quite normal you’re disappointed and angry after a loss, as we all are overall. Small details are always decisive for the outcome of the game,*” said Farke.
“*After a really good start — we went in the lead — we should do more than to give this away so cheaply. We should have been more on it, more pressure on the ball. The second decisive moment of the game was the 2-1. Big mistake of the referee, the only one in the stadium who saw the foul on Stach was a foul against him.*”
The German added that Leeds had worked extensively on preventing Forest’s trademark long balls and crosses in training, but were undone by lapses in concentration.
“*We addressed it all week,” he said. “They play with many long balls and crosses, we were not spot on in this moment. You take more risks, bring offensive players in and we were a bit clumsy to give the penalty away.*”
Farke frustrated by officiating but defensive issues loom larger
While Farke described the free-kick that led to Forest’s second goal as “the wrong decision”, he admitted Leeds still could have defended the sequence better.
That moment came deep inside the Forest half — leaving his side plenty of time to recover — but their defensive organisation crumbled, leading to another soft goal. It has become a worrying theme for a side struggling to find balance between solidity and creativity.
Farke’s men recorded an Expected Goals (xG) of just 0.69 compared to Forest’s 2.47, underlining their lack of attacking threat.
Farke urges calm amid growing pressure
Leeds supporters made their frustration clear at full-time, with a mix of applause and angry gestures toward the players and technical area. Despite growing noise about his future, Farke remained composed.
“It’s quite normal that the fanbase of Leeds United is emotional,” he told the Yorkshire Evening Post. “Everyone was doubting after each loss last season and we finished with 100 points. Everyone has the right to be a bit critical — we’ve conceded three goals in the last two away games."
“*We could have made our life more easy with some points, that’s for sure. We have to return back to our best behaviour in terms of defending like the start of the season when we were really good.*”
The manager also pointed to the club’s realistic objectives following a challenging transfer window.
“*I didn’t expect before the season that it would be an easy, smooth ride,” he said. “We have 11 points from 11 games, the points average we need to stay in this league. We’ve never been in the relegation zone. Could have been better, but it’s nothing making us panic. We’re quite calm.*”
With three away defeats in their last four, Leeds now look to stabilise their form at Elland Road, where they have been stronger. Farke’s focus will be on restoring defensive discipline and ensuring his side rediscover the structure that saw them start the season confidently.
The pressure, however, is unmistakably rising — and home results over the coming weeks could prove crucial for both Leeds’ survival hopes and Farke’s position in the dugout.