Daniel Farke admitted it had been a “scruffy” way to go through for his Leeds United team, but was pleased with the spirit shown by the team in their FA Cup fourth round tie at Birmingham City.
The Whites struggled for large periods to get their football going and rode their luck to go through 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out after drawing 1-1 with their impressive Championship opponents.
Leeds had gone out in a shoot-out to Sheffield Wednesday in the Carabao Cup earlier in the season and have plenty of recent bad experiences against lower division opposition so there was relief in the camp they came through this one.
Manager Farke had made six changes to his line-up and altered the system back to to the 4-2-3-1 he favoured when the team was in the Championship with Facundo Buonanotte handed his first start in the number 10 position following his loan move.
Lucas Perri made some crucial saves for Leeds United in their FA Cup tie at Birmingham City.placeholder image
Lucas Perri made some crucial saves for Leeds United in their FA Cup tie at Birmingham City.
It did not work as United were hustled out of their stride and never looked comfortable in the first half.
They did improve after Buonanotte was taken off at the break and a 4-3-3 system came into place and went ahead through Lukas Nmecha's sixth goal of the season, but needed some fortune to get over the line with their hosts hitting the woodwork twice and keeper Lucas Perri coming up with some vital saves, including one in the shoot-out.
"First of all I have to say really well done to Birmingham, they made this a really difficult game for us, like we expected," said Farke.
"Fantastic home performance, you could feel they're in red hot form. Stadium was buzzing, everyone on it. We have rotated a bit more than we would perhaps do for a league game.
Lukas Nmecha put Leeds United in front in their FA Cup tie at Birmingham City.placeholder image
Lukas Nmecha put Leeds United in front in their FA Cup tie at Birmingham City.
“No question they were better in the first half, they would have deserved to be in the lead. We brought many offensive players on, it could be the case if you don't dominate you're a bit outmuscled.
“Not too many positives in the first half, but although we were suffering we still found a way to keep a clean sheet. Perri with good saves, last row with many blocks.
“We changed our set-up and brought our captain Ethan Ampadu in, a bit more physicality, changed the base formation and won step by step more control. Better in pressing, well taken goal but they stayed in the game, was very tight, very competitive. It's football.
“They had too many corners and out of one we cleared it but a strike from 25 yards, deflected, goes in, 90th minute. I'm happy we showed resilience. We used penalties, well taken and Perri was again excellent.
“It was a scruffy, hard fought win and sometimes these type of wins are the best for the spirit in the group.”
Despite getting through Farke is not dreaming of Wembley with his big desire to be allowed a home tie – Leeds have been drawn away in 37 of their last 47 cup ties.
“The first thing I dream about would be a home draw," he added.
“I would like to have a proper packed Elland Road in the next round.
“We know the recent history of the club is not great in the FA Cup.
“Step by step it's not perhaps realistic to dream of a win at Wembley but I like a proper cup run. A cup run is always excitement for the supporters and players. Just one game per week we don't rotate too much, but with cup games we can share minutes even more.
“Everyone knows they have to stay on it and focused and they're needed. For the whole group it's beneficial.
“It's the cup with the biggest history in Europe and it's a chance to write a special chapter in the club's history."
Leeds initially had trouble with the pace Birmingham played at and the constant turning round of the defenders with quick long balls, often from the goalkeeper, presenting real problems.
They were only level at the break thanks to a fingertip save by Perri to push Jay Stansfield's well struck half-volley onto the crossbar and a fine save low down to keep out Demarai Gray's shot plus some weak finishing and final balls by the hosts.
A flying start to the second half seemed to be just what United needed as Nmecha found the back of the net with a powerful strike from the edge of the box.
But it was followed by huge pressure exerted by City and a number of dangerous corners that were somehow survived.
A bit of control did come into United's play although their opponents were always dangerous with Stansfield, August Priske, Carlos Vicente and Ibrahim Osman all having half-chances.
Jaka Bijol and James Justin both sent headers over from Leeds corners as the cup tie remained lively.
It seemed the Whites were going to hold onto their one-goal lead until the 89th minute when a corner was only cleared as far as Patrick Roberts 25 yards out and his shot was deflected past Perri off the head of Justin.
In a thrilling finish Dominic Calvert-Lewin's shot was deflected over, but Birmingham came even closer as Osman's angled shot hit the post and Kanya Fujimoto's follow-up attempt was brilliantly blocked by Bijol.
Extra-time saw Calvert-Lewin force a save from the home keeper and from the resulting corner Ethan Ampadu fired over.
But the tie went down to penalties with Joel Piroe, Calvert-Lewin, Brenden Aaronson and Sean Longstaff all putting their spot kicks away.
Stansfield and Marvin Ducksch scored the first two Birmingham penalties, but Tommy Doyle's effort was well saved by Perri and Roberts blazed his spot kick over.
(Roberts 89)
(Nmecha 49)
Leeds won 4-2 on penalties
Sunday, February, 15, 2026
FA Cup, round four
Attendance: 28,035
Birmingham: Allsop; Osayi-Samuel (Fujimoto 83), Klara, Panzo (Neumann 90), Wagner; Solis (Betteka 114), Doyle; Gray (Osman 45), Stansfield, Vicente (Roberts 74); Priske (Ducksch 74).
Leeds: Perri; Justin, Bornauw (Rodon 90), Bijol, Gudmundsson; Tanaka (Piroe 78), Longstaff; Gnonto (Aaronson 68), Buonanotte (Ampadu 45), Okafor (Bogle 82); Nmecha (Calvert-Lewin 68)
Referee: Paul Tierney
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