Daniel Farke has his critics but he has delivered two historic milestones in the space of nine days for Leeds United
Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
07:00, 14 Apr 2026
Daniel Farke celebrates with the Leeds United support at full time
View Image
Daniel Farke celebrates with the Leeds United support at full time(Image: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Leeds United just keep on making history under Daniel Farke. A club record points total in the Championship last season, a first FA Cup semi-final for 39 years - and now a first league win at old rivals Manchester United since 1981.
Yesterday was an ‘I was there’ day. The away end was vibrant throughout and a sea of limbs when the goals went in - and at full time. It is surely a memory that will be burned into the memory of Farke and his players.
A whole generation of supporters has not seen such scenes at Old Trafford in a league fixture, though they were put through the wringer.
Lisandro Martinez’s red card for pulling the hair of Dominic Calvert-Lewin helped in the most obvious sense but that didn’t stop the visitors allowing their opponents back in.
Casemiro’s header sparked memories of the capitulations at Newcastle United and West Ham last week. This time Leeds came through in what is a monumental result.
Relegation boost
Amidst it all, Leeds scored for the first time in five Premier League games and recorded their first league away win since September. Leeds are now six points clear of the drop zone with six games left to go.
No wonder Daniel Farke sunk to his knees in celebration at full time. Leeds still have all of the bottom four to play and the bottom two at home. The energy and momentum the last two wins will have given the team cannot be understated and Elland Road will be at fever pitch come 3pm on Saturday against Wolves.
A win there could be enough - but don’t count chickens before they’ve hatched, something Farke reiterated in his press conference. "Nothing is achieved yet," he said. "Because, on Premier League, the momentum can change pretty, pretty quickly, we have to stay on it.
"[I} know that on Saturday, we have probably one of our most difficult games during the whole season, because the expectations are high in the home game right now to win - I predict it will be a very, very difficult game. And for that, my focus is already like to make sure that we also deliver points in the next game."
But nights like yesterday have shown why Leeds deserve to be a Premier League club next season. The smiles on the faces of Calvert-Lewin and Okafor as they walked through the tunnel said it all.
Okafor on form
Noah Okafor’s two first-time finishes will live in the annals of Leeds history books for many years to come. The first was a sublime goal, guiding the ball home from a header out to catch Lammens out and send the away end into raptures.
It seems as though he has been given renewed life since being recalled back into the Switzerland squad during the international break, giving him hope of a World Cup spot. Daniel Farke - who sank to his knees in celebration at full-time - was delighted with facets of his game, not just the attacking ones.
“So Noah has a bit of this X Factor,” he said. “What you don't find that often in a promoted side, he brings us to our game. But what I like is his attitude, his workload against the ball is improving and is way better than the beginning of the season.
“Fitness level is way better. And then if you do so, if you show this mentality, you work for the team, then you can also shine on the individual, personal level. And of course, you have the instinct to be in the right positions today, to be there with top finishing situations is crucial.”
FOLLOW OUR LUFC FACEBOOK PAGE! Latest news, analysis and more on our Leeds United FB pag
The red card
Delving more into the red card, Farke actually said he felt it counted against Leeds, swinging the momentum towards the hosts, who had nothing to lose with nearly 70,000 home fans baying their team forward.
“I know it sounds sometimes a bit strange, but such a situation can change the momentum of the game,” he said. “I wouldn't say it was a key moment in our favour. It could have been a key moment for the other side, because before we were so much in control.”
As for Michael Carrick, he was seething with the call. “We’ve just got to be careful where the game is going. It's a shocking decision. There is a difference between brushing hair and grabbing it.”
Article continues below
For the record, Farke said he hadn’t watched the replay back but felt that if the referee was called over to the VAR screen and advised to give the red card, it usually is the correct call.