Leeds took another significant step towards Premier League survival with a second crucial victory in the space of five days, as Daniel Farke’s side dispatched the bottom side Wolves, whose own fate is now almost officially sealed.
A run of six league games without a win had threatened to drag Leeds back towards the bottom three at precisely the wrong time of the season. However, the Whites’ first league win at Manchester United since 1981 on Monday night was backed up in West Yorkshire with another crucial victory when it mattered most.
Two goals in as many minutes from James Justin and Noah Okafor plus an injury-time penalty for Dominic Calvert-Lewin were more than enough to ensure back-to-back wins for Leeds, who now move to 39 points and on the verge of safety. That total has been enough to guarantee survival in each of the last eight seasons and with Burnley, Tottenham and West Ham still to come, they will fancy securing more than 39, too.
As for Wolves, there are a number of outcomes which can mathematically ensure their relegation to the Championship this weekend. But it has been known for quite some time they will be playing in the second tier next season and this was a fairly meek display from Rob Edwards’ side, who never really did enough to suggest they could salvage such a poor start.
The biggest criticism of Leeds was that after taking an early two-goal lead, they didn’t definitively put the contest to bed. Had Wolves taken one of the occasional chances which came their way, this could have been a much nervier afternoon. But at this stage of the season, it is winning which is all that matters, not necessarily performances.
Leeds began on the front foot almost immediately. Calvert-Lewin forced a fine save from Dan Bentley in the first minute, with Bentley called upon for his first appearance of the season after injuries to Sam Johnstone and José Sá. Bentley was powerless two minutes after, left flat-footed as Justin headed over an Ao Tanaka cross from close range.
Even at such an early point, it felt inevitable a Leeds goal was coming. That moment arrived on 18 minutes when Leeds again caused a scramble from a corner and while Bentley did well to deny Ethan Ampadu, Justin reacted quickest with a wonderful overhead kick to give the hosts a deserved lead.
Suddenly, Wolves looked and felt brittle. And to Leeds’s credit they took full advantage, with a mix-up at the back allowing Brenden Aaronson to break, his magnificent cross being turned home by the hero of Monday’s win at Old Trafford in Okafor, who scored his fifth goal in seven games to put Farke’s side in complete control.
But there was a peculiar malaise about the remainder of the half from Leeds. Perhaps content with that quick-fire double, they took their foot off the proverbial gas and were fortunate their lead wasn’t halved – as Calvert-Lewin had to frantically clear off the line from a Rodrigo Gomes corner as half-time approached.
The hosts continued to looked somewhat laboured after the break too, a far cry from the intensity with which they had started the match. Karl Darlow had to be on hand with a superb save to deny Ladislav Krejci’s header before Rodrigo Gomes flashed wide having been put through on goal.
Suddenly, Elland Road began to feel tense, and the crowd made their feelings known that one mistake could have put the outcome in real jeopardy. That tension felt heightened even further when Adam Armstrong dinked over Darlow before the flag was correctly raised to rule the striker offside, but finally, in the dying embers, Leeds made sure of victory.
Willy Gnonto’s pass put Calvert-Lewin through on goal but the striker was fouled by Hugo Bueno. The defender was booked and the England international made no mistake from the penalty spot to score his 11th of the season to confirm that, barring an incredible late-season run of results, Leeds will be a Premier League side once again next season.