Leeds United

Molly Whitmore
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Who does not love a trip down to London? I do. Although not so much mid-afternoon on a Sunday. This felt like a fantastic opportunity for us to close the gap on Crystal Palace and pick up three points that some of the teams around us in the relegation fight failed to get. Fair play to West Ham for taking a point off Manchester City - although, if I am being honest, I would have preferred they did not.

It is difficult to sum up the feeling after this game because it is now the third match recently where it has been hard to judge our performance properly because of the standard of refereeing. The second yellow for Gabriel Gudmundsson was probably the softest second booking I can remember seeing in all my years watching football.

I often roll my eyes when people start saying Leeds are hated by officials, but you can understand why some fans think that way with decisions like that. It was an absolute joke.

Speaking of second bookings, both sides should probably have ended up with 10 men if the referee had been consistent with the Brennan Johnson incident. It was the same type of challenge - if not worse. It felt very similar to the standard of officiating we experienced at home against Sunderland.

It was also gutting to see Dominic Calvert-Lewin miss the penalty. That would have been the perfect way to go 1-0 up, especially with the other results going the way they were over the weekend. Being five points clear sounds a lot nicer than being three clear.

I keep getting asked whether I would rather stay up or go as far as possible in the FA Cup. After managing to get my ticket for the quarter-final against West Ham, I am honestly not sure what my answer is.

The excitement of the cup right now feels far more enjoyable than the way the Premier League has been going for us this season. We are turning up in league games against some of the very best teams, playing really well by our standards, and too often coming away with nothing to show for it because of decisions from the referee or the officials on the touchline.

One thing that does add a bit of intrigue is that one of Manchester City and Liverpool will knock the other out. Hopefully we turn up in London, put out our strongest side, and give it a real go.

I am already starting to plan my Wembley outfit.

Molly Whitmore is a regular contributor on BBC Radio Leeds - find all their audio here

Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Leeds United should have been awarded a penalty in their 1-0 loss at home to Sunderland on 3 March, according to the Premier League's Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel.

The game was goalless in the 16th minute when Daniel Farke's side were awarded a corner.

As the ball was delivered from the right, Sunderland's Luke O'Nien held back Pascal Struijk.

The KMI Panel unanimously voted that it was a mistake by referee Stuart Attwell and there should have been a video assistant referee (VAR) intervention from Paul Tierney.

It noted that O'Nien is "not looking at the ball, places his arms around the neck of Struijk in a clear non-footballing action and stops the Leeds United attacker from progressing towards goal".

After the game, Farke was furious that his side had not been awarded the spot-kick.

"It's not even a question," Farke said. "What was VAR doing?

"It's tough to understand how this is not checked. If the referee watched it back he would say all day long it's a penalty.

"It's more for VAR, it's difficult for the referee to see."

It is the first VAR error logged against Leeds this season.

Leeds went on to lose the game through a 70th-minute VAR penalty after Ethan Ampadu was penalised for handball inside the area.

This was also supported by a 5:0 vote.

The KMI Panel said: "Ampadu clearly knocks the ball away with his arm in a secondary motion and the VAR intervention was supported as correct."

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio Leeds reporter Adam Pope says referee, Thomas Bramall, "absolutely ruined" Leeds' game against Crystal Palace "with the cheapest yellow" card, which saw Gabriel Gudmundsson receive a red card.

On a weekend when the spotlight was on referees, Bramall possibly thought there would be no more controversy after Chelsea's starting XI surrounded Paul Tierney in their pre-match huddle against Newcastle.

However, as Tierney watched on from the fourth official position at Crystal Palace the following day, he would witness Bramall give Gudmundsson a second yellow, followed by a delayed red card.

Surely, Bramall had not forgotten about Gudmundsson's 26th-minute yellow card, which he picked up for fouling Brennan Johnson?

"I didn't think the referee was doing a bad job - he called the [Leeds] penalty in real time straight away," Pope told the Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast.

"Then he absolutely ruined it with the cheapest yellow card. Getting it so wrong to the point he had forgotten he had given a yellow already."

Similar to Pope's views, Kaiser Chiefs' bassist, Simon Rix, thinks Bramall had a "nightmare" officiating the 0-0 draw.

"When you have had such a bad day at the office - has he been to sleep yet?

"He tries to blag that he hasn't forgotten that he has given a yellow, but his face on the live telly..."

Gudmundsson's red card was Leeds' first sending off in the Premier League season, with Arsenal being the only side this season to not have a player sent off in the Premier League campaign.

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Explore all Leeds United content on BBC Sounds

The Whites picked up an important point on the road at Crystal Palace despite having a man sent off in the first half.

On the latest episode of BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just yet, Jonny Buchan, Adam Pope and Kaiser Chiefs' bassist Simon Rix reflect on the game and ask what the weekend's results do for the chances of survival.

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Explore all Leeds United content on BBC Sounds

It is the business end of the season and the race to stay in the Premier League is getting more tense.

With Opta giving Burnley and Wolves just a 0.35% and 0.07% chance of survival respectively and Crystal Palace a 0.08% chance of going down, it looks like it is a fight between four teams to avoid the remaining relegation spot.

Just three points separate West Ham in 18th and Leeds in 15th, with only goal difference currently keeping the Hammers in the drop zone.

Opta's supercomputer has been running the scenarios and providing the percentage chance of Leeds, Tottenham, Nottingham Forest and West Ham finishing in 18th place.

At 6.36%, Leeds are currently predicted to have the best chance of staying in the top flight in their first season back, while bottom-of-the-form-table Tottenham - who are just one point ahead Forest and West Ham - have been given a 13.03% likelihood of being in that third relegation spot come the end of the campaign.

Things look a bit more worrying for Vitor Pereira's Forest and Nuno Espirito Santo's West Ham with a 32.85% and 45% chance respectively.

As Spurs and Forest face each other in a crucial match this Sunday, the picture could yet look a whole lot different heading into the international break next week.

Do you agree with the supercomputer? Who do you think of those four teams is most likely to go down?

Make your choice here

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Crystal Palace and Leeds.

Here are some of your comments:

Crystal Palace fans

Dave: So poor going forward, Palace need to improve or could still get sucked into the relegation battle. Very lacklustre and slow moving the ball today. At times it looked like they had the ten men not Leeds. Need to do better.

Gary: Do we have to wait to the end of the season to rebuild? A manager and half the first team wanting out. Should we expect anything else than this dross?

Bob: I cannot believe that this is the club that won the FA Cup and Community Shield! I'm lost for words. There's no passion for victory, even playing against 10 men. Most of our best players have gone, including our captain, and others are leaving at the end of the season, including Glasner. I cannot wait for this season to finish and start afresh! The empty seats near the end of the game said it all.

Trevor: Poor performance from Palace. Glasner going through the motions - walking football at it's worst.

Leeds fans

Gerry: Leeds are basically donating catch-up points to their relegation rivals. Week after week we hear of missed opportunities despite "brave efforts". With West Ham and Spurs still to play, two defeats could see Leeds needing their "tremendous team spirit" to get themselves out of the Championship next season.

Dan: This is now a four horse race for survival and missing that penalty is a gut punch for us but, let's be honest, we never do well down in London so a point with 10 men has to be celebrated. We just have to get a couple more wins and we'll be safe.

Andy: Defensively sound, referee ruined the game with poor decisions, move on, a decent point under the circumstances.

Richard: The ref took two points off us today. Great team spirit to keep it 0-0, but even then I think we looked the most dangerous in the second half.

Emma Smith
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

"Edging closer" is the right phrase. Leeds have not won in five league matches but have drawn their past three.

With fellow strugglers West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham all earning draws this weekend, 15th-placed Leeds have maintained the three-point gap between themselves and the relegation zone.

To misquote the likely apocryphal words of England cricketer George Hirst against Australia in the 1902 Ashes, Leeds will "get it in singles".

Daniel Farke's side also have the kindest run-in on paper, with just one game against a top-six team - Manchester United on 13 April - and home games against the bottom two, Burnley and Wolves.

But there is the nagging feeling their three-point gap to the drop zone should have been five.

Since the start of the 2022-23 season, only Liverpool and Fulham have failed to convert more penalties than Leeds in the top flight - despite the Yorkshire side being in the Championship in two of those campaigns.

It denied Leeds their first away win since September, when they beat rock-bottom Wolves. The only two teams with worse records away from home are the bottom two.

And it was more frustration for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who overcame a late fitness test on a knee issue to play here and led the line with impressive physicality.

But after scoring twice against Palace in December - taking his personal tally to seven league goals versus the Eagles - he has scored only three times in 12 league games.

Farke, a former forward himself, was philosophical.

"I was happy with his overall performance, I was happy for him to take [the penalty]. Also, what he did in the second half, he was a crucial part today.

"Of course, you want to hit the target and he is disappointed. But this is football, even Harry Kane misses penalties.

"I was a striker - I missed more penalties than you can count."

Read more analysis of Leeds' draw with Crystal Palace here

Pundits Wayne Rooney and Micah Richards join host Mark Chapman to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Crystal Palace 0-0 Leeds

• Manchester United 3-1 Aston Villa

• Nottingham Forest 0-0 Fulham

• Liverpool 1-1 Tottenham

Crystal Palace are set to rival Leeds for Derby's 25-year-old United States forward Patrick Agyemang. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Emma Smith
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has seven Premier League goals to his name against Palace, including two earlier this season in a 4-1 win at Elland Road.

He has not scored more against any other team from the top flight, so it seemed like a huge boost for Leeds when the striker was passed fit to start at Selhurst Park.

In the build-up, Daniel Farke had said Leeds would make a late call on him because of a knee issue.

Calvert-Lewin caused plenty of issues for Palace through the first half, testing home goalkeeper Walter Benitez with a header and forcing Brennan Johnson into a last-gasp clearance - before his big penalty chance.

The miss defined the game, and combined with the red card it created a five-minute spell that was scarcely believable for Leeds.

It is to the credit of Farke's men that they did not buckle and were driven to a hard-earned point, with captain Ethan Ampadu particularly impressive in midfield.

But with Nottingham Forest dropping points against Fulham, this feels like a missed opportunity to open a real gap between Leeds and the drop zone.

Leeds boss Daniel Farke, speaking to BBC Match of the Day after their goalless draw with Crystal Palace: "I would trust my lads with my life. We are not perfect, but the mentality in the dressing room is second to none. In the circumstances, in a difficult away game, we defended the whole time and we didn't give any chances away.

"I think in the end, we had a higher expected goals than our opponents. Fantastic spirit, defending, clean sheet, and a point away."

On the red card: "Everyone in the stadium can see [it was the wrong decision]. It was doubtful if it was even a foul. For me, it was a clear mistake."

On the missed penalty: "You have to accept that you can miss the biggest chances. I am just proud of how we defended. Even in the second half, there was even moments where we thought we could win the game."

You can also listen to Farke speak to BBC Radio Leeds on BBC Sounds

Did you know?

• Leeds United are the only team on record (since 2003-04) to have a player sent off in the first half and not concede a single shot on target in the same Premier League match.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Crystal Palace's performance

What did you make of Leeds' display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Oliver Glasner makes three changes to the Crystal Palace side which started the goalless draw with AEK Larnaca in midweek.

Most notably, first-choice goalkeeper Dean Henderson is not in the squad at all as Walter Benitez starts in net.

Midfielders Adam Wharton and Daichi Kamada are rotated to the bench, with Jefferson Lerma and Will Hughes starting - the latter as captain.

Crystal Palace XI: Benitez; Richards, Lacroix, Canvot; Lerma, Hughes, Mitchell; Johnson, Sarr, Guessand; Strand Larsen

Subs: Matthews, Pino, Mateta, Clyne, Kamada, Wharton, Sosa, Riad, Devenny.

Daniel Farke makes two changes to the Leeds XI which started their most recent Premier League game, the 1-0 home loss to Sunderland.

Jayden Bogle and Ilia Gruev drop to the bench, with starts for Jaka Bijol and Lukas Nmecha.

Farke said Dominic Calvert-Lewin was a late call due to a knee issue - but the striker is fit to start.

Leeds XI: Darlow; Rodon, Struijk, Bijol; Justin, Ampadu, Stach, Gudmundsson; Aaronson, Nmecha; Calvert-Lewin

Subs: Perri, Bogle, James, Longstaff, Piroe, Tanaka, Bornauw, Gnonto, Gruev

There are four games in the Premier League on Sunday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Crystal Palace v Leeds - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Man Utd v Aston Villa - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Nottingham Forest v Fulham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Liverpool v Tottenham (16:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-offs 14:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Crystal Palace v Leeds" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Liverpool v Spurs", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Leeds hammered Crystal Palace 4-1 before Christmas but it will be much closer when they meet on Sunday.

Palace seem to have stabilised again, and have picked up a couple of wins to give themselves some breathing space over the bottom three.

Leeds are in much greater danger and I am a bit worried about them at the moment. They need to keep picking up positive results.

I really feel for Daniel Farke because he has had a great season but they are only three points clear of the relegation zone, and they really need something from this game.

There will be some goals in this, but I think the points will be shared.

Sutton's prediction: 2-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Chris Adams
BBC Sport journalist

Crystal Palace have found some much-needed form since the transfer window shut but Sunday's opponents Leeds United are still very much looking over their shoulders at the teams below them.

Three wins in their past five league games – as many as they registered in their previous 14 – have moved Palace into 13th place. It's given them a 10-point cushion over the drop zone and afforded head coach Oliver Glasner some welcome breathing space after a tumultuous January.

The Eagles' victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on 22 February was their first in the league at Selhurst Park for nearly four months and they have won just three of their 14 top flight home games so far this season.

Strand by me

Although he didn't score in that win against his previous club, Palace's record signing Jorgen Strand Larsen has notched three goals in five league games since his deadline day arrival, offering Glasner a welcome alternative to Jean-Philippe Mateta at centre-forward.

Indeed, the £48m move seems to have reinvigorated the Norwegian striker, who was struggling to repeat his form from last season in the first half of this campaign.

For all their home woes this season, Palace have an impressive recent record in this exact fixture. Since a 2-1 defeat in the Championship in 2006, they are unbeaten in seven at home to Leeds, winning four of those.

Whites in for a fright?

It would take an unlikely quartet of scorelines over the weekend but Leeds could find themselves in the bottom three come Sunday evening.

Just two wins in 12 league games since Christmas has left Daniel Farke's side in 15th position, a mere three points above both West Ham United and Nottingham Forest.

The Whites have taken all three points on the road just once in this campaign, way back in September against Wolves, and a plethora of draws is arguably what has dragged them into the relegation battle.

Only Burnley and Wolves have shown worse form on the road this season.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin's glut of goals over the festive period has dried up and Leeds have suffered for it. This might be the perfect game for him to rekindle his form because against no side has he scored more Premier League goals than his seven against Palace.

The Eagles' defence struggled to contain Calvert-Lewin as he scored twice in the reverse fixture in December, a 4-1 win for the Whites, who are looking to complete the league double over the south London side for the first time since 1994-95.

To do so, though, Farke's outfit will have to overcome a growing problem when visiting the capital. Leeds are winless in their past 11 top-flight away games against London sides (drawn two, lost nine).

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

In the battle at the bottom, Wolves and Burnley are all but down barring a footballing miracle, which leaves one spot that is likely to be filled by one of Leeds, Tottenham, Nottingham Forest and West Ham.

With the most points on the board already, Leeds have the kindest run-in on paper, with just one game against a side from the top six (Manchester United on 13 April) and home games against both of the bottom two.

Meanwhile, it would seem like West Ham are the most likely to be relegated as not only do they currently sit in the bottom three, they also have the toughest run-in of the four sides.

However, the reason why Tottenham and Nottingham Forest fans have reason to be nervous is that the Hammers' performances have improved considerably under Nuno Espirito Santo's guidance in recent weeks.

Only four Premier League teams have taken more points from their past eight games than the east Londoners (14) and only four teams have a higher expected goal difference in that time, suggesting the upturn has not been down to luck.

Read more here

Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Crystal palace at Selhurst Park (kick-off 14:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Dominic Calvert-Lewin is a doubt but Farke is "carefully optimistic" that he will be available. Calvert-Lewin has a slight knee problem and it will be a "late call" on whether he is available.

• Noah Okafor a "major doubt", he missed training on Friday due to a problem with his hips.

• On if he feels the pressure has increased as they near the end of the season: "If you represent Leeds United you always have pressure. We are used to playing under pressure, winning points in each game. We know where we are in terms of what we want to achieve. We know the job is not done."

• On how many points they need in their remaining Premier League games to survive: "Seven to nine more points are needed to stay in this league. We know in order to do this, there is still work needed, good performances needed. We are focused like always."

• On Crystal Palace: "One thing is for sure, they will not underestimate us. It's always the same when you win the first leg in the season. It's a home game for them and they have new players available. The way Glasner sets up his team and his principles are always the same, so it's still a Crystal Palace side but I expect a different type of game. We have to be on it."

Listen to full match commentary of Crystal palace v Leeds United on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

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