The Leeds United manager has given his players the vote of confidence despite another goalless game
Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
07:30, 22 Mar 2026
Daniel Farke still holds faith that his side can finish on more than 38 points
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Daniel Farke still holds faith that his side can finish on more than 38 points(Image: Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
Leeds United have ended March without a Premier League goal following Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Brentford - but manager Daniel Farke has doubled down on why he believes that the Whites can escape the drop.
Leeds have not scored in the league for a month, and not from open play since February 10. It’s now four top-flight matches without finding the net and a mini-streak has now turned into a worrying trend - though Farke is not concerned.
“I’m not alarmed," he said. “Over the course of 38 games, you have these experiences. I just would just judge this game in isolation, because Brentford had really, really a good defence of the area, you have to say.”
Brentford did set up with five defenders at the back for the first time since December, with boss Keith Andrews stating this was out of necessity amid a spate of injuries.
However, Saturday saw Leeds record their lowest xG (0.55) return since playing Arsenal on January 31, with this metric declining over the past four games.
“We are very aware that we don't have the individual quality where you have to expect your offensive players to beat a player and score a goal,” Farke added. “But over the course of the season, I think we've proved that we have goals in us.
“I'm pretty sure that if you keep going like this, we also score enough goals in the upcoming games.”
If so, something has got to change in attack. Leeds looked devoid of creativity and the worry is that Brentford have highlighted the way for others to frustrate them. Perhaps it is no coincidence that Leeds lost 1-0 to Sunderland when they deployed a back five.
At the other end, Karl Darlow kept a second consecutive Premier League clean sheet since January 2018 but he admitted the Leeds dressing room was left “frustrated”, despite it being a “step in the right direction”.
“It shows that we've got the steel to keep coming out with points and grinding out 0-0s when we need to. It's better than losing,” he said. “I think sometimes you have these sort of runs, especially in the Premier League, we just need a scruffy one to go in and then we're back on our way.”
How Leeds do need that. They are not going to keep a clean sheet in each of the final seven games so will need to shake off the scoreless shackles, with Manchester United next up in the Premier League on April 13.
Before then, they play relegation rivals West Ham United for a place in the FA Cup semi-finals. Goals - one goal - against the Hammers would reignite that confidence.
As for the league, it is possible Leeds need more than Farke’s point-per-game aim of 38, something he himself has admitted. “Right now, we have 33 points and we have to win five to seven," he continued.
“With 40 points, you definitely stay in this league. And this is why it's a relegation ‘battle’. Relegation battles are battles. It's not like an easy cruise to the promised land.
“I'm very confident that if we keep going with this mentality and this togetherness, the spirit, also this level of performance, we have enough in order to win these five to seven points that we need.”
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Two wins could bring Leeds to the brink of safety. But to do that, they need to find the nat again. Another four-game goalless streak could see survival slip through the net itself.