Stuart Rayner
Published19th Apr 2026, 17:00 BST
There are lots of things that could have been better about Leeds' season at times – stronger finishing, a better mindset defending leads, fewer defensive errors, more proactive substitutions, more reliable goalkeeping – but every team in every league can always be better.
If your biggest gripe is that they should have "won" their last three games more convincingly, things are going pretty well.
Something is building at Elland Road – literally, as evidenced by the scaffolding on the main stand and the digging behind the South Stand.
With five games left, Leeds are eight points above the relegation zone, three clear at the top of their mini-league, and looking forward to a trip to Wembley where victory over a Chelsea team under increasing pressure after recent results will set up a first FA Cup final since 1973.
Elland Road is a happy place.
They sang about Wembley, of course, and taunted Wolves about the grounds they will visit in next season's Championship, inevitably.
ASSIST: Brenden Aaronson (Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)placeholder image
ASSIST: Brenden Aaronson (Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
"United are back," they declared proudly and they serenaded Daniel Farke – one of the best managers in England this season if you watch what he has done or an incompetent fraud if you just follow the opinions of perma-angry keyboard warriors (promise me you will never do that).
The substitution of an injured linesman got a laugh.
Even if you were as harsh on what followed as Justin was – and Farke was quick to knock that down – the first 20 minutes or so of the sunshine-lit game were fantastic entertainment, two words not used often enough in this far-from vintage season across English league football.
You could see how much fun Leeds were having when centre-back Justin nutmegged goalkeeper Daniel Bentley with an overhead kick to put his side in front.
KEEPING COOL: Leeds United's Dominic Calvert-Lewin converts his stoppage-time penalty (Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)placeholder image
KEEPING COOL: Leeds United's Dominic Calvert-Lewin converts his stoppage-time penalty (Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
Not long after he produced a diving header to stop Adam Armstrong running through on goal.
Okafor, who set up a chance inside 25 seconds, turned 1-0 into 2-0 very quickly, Brenden Aaronson teeing him up with a lovely curling pass when Toti Gomes gave the away.
Then Leeds let up.
Having seen Armstrong clear off the line from him at 0-0, Calvert-Lewin had to do the same at 2-0.
HITTING FORM: Willy Gnonto had a big impact from the bench (Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)placeholder image
HITTING FORM: Willy Gnonto had a big impact from the bench (Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
Karl Darlow made an excellent one-handed save from Ladislav Krejci. Leeds’ goalkeeping concerns have long since been put to bed.
Rodrigo Gomes shot wide under pressure; Armstrong dinked over Darlow from an offside position.
"I wouldn't say rubbish, it was just a game where it was more important to win three points and you feel it in the crunch time," said Farke.
"If you calm down, then you have to say it was probably a relatively comfortable 3-0 win.”
Just as Farke was preparing a triple stoppage-time change, substitute Willy Gnonto played a lovely ball to Calvert-Lewin, who was shoved over. He sent Bentley the wrong way from 12 yards.
Calvert-Lewin’s finishing is only as reliable as you can expect from a free transfer, but his cool from the penalty spot lately has been vital.
RUBBISH: James Justin (left) was unimpressed with large parts of Leeds United's performance (Image: Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images)placeholder image
RUBBISH: James Justin (left) was unimpressed with large parts of Leeds United's performance (Image: Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images)
Gnonto, Okafor and Ao Tanaka are in their best form of the season.
"Overall, as a whole team, I would say this," commented Farke. "The crunch time period is the most difficult period."
Wolves can be relegated on Monday, perhaps making them tougher next opponents for Tottenham Hotspur (see Rotherham United).
For Leeds, it could have been even better but it was still very good. And Justin’s harsh word just show a dressing room unwilling to settle.
Leeds United: Darlow; Justin, Bijol, Struijk; Bogle, Ampadu, Tanaka (Longstaff 90+6), Gudmundsson (Rodon 90+6); Aaronson (Gruev 77), Okafor (Gnonto 67); Calvert-Lewin (Nmecha 90+6). Unused substitutes: Perri, Piroe, Bornauw, Buonanotte.
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Bentley; S Bueno, Krejci (Hwang 75), Toti; Tchatchoua (Lima HT), Andre, J Gomes, H Bueno; Bellegarde (R Gomes 67), A Gomes (Mane 37); Armstrong.
Unused substitutes: Wolfe, Arokodare, Brooks, Olagunju, Edozie.
Referee: F Hallam (Surrey).
TALKING POINTS
Top form: Noah Okafor, Ao Tanaka and Willy Gnonto are hitting their best form of the season when it matters most as others wilt – I am looking at you, Tottenham Hotpsur.
Not mint: Whoever thought Wolves’ old gold and black clashed with all white so let them wear a mint green kits much harder for some to distinguish made a bad call.
Tough times: These are hard times at Wolves, with not even enough names to go around. They had four players called Gomes on the field on Saturday, and two Buenos.
Gerronwi’it: There are fair complaints about the time wasted in games, but in VARed games the worst culprits can be officials. Lewis Smith took longer getting ready to come on as a replacement linesman than even the tardiest substitute player.