We are on a good path says Leeds United boss Farke after big win over Newcastle
Leeds United players came in for big praise after climbing up to third place in the Premier League with a comprehensive win over previously unbeaten Newcastle United.
On a night when almost everything went right the Whites powered into a fully deserved three-goal lead in the first half and their game management saw them go on to record a 4-1 win – their equal biggest since coming back into the top flight.
There was an element of luck about a double ricochet that gave them their opening goal, but no luck about a victory which made a real statement that Leeds are competing with the bigger boys this season.
“It was one of the the best performances, I think, over the last 12 months,” said manager Farke.
“But we know that we have to stay humble. We know that we have to stay on it. We know that we perhaps don’t have the best individual quality, but we can be an outstanding team. This is what we’ve shown today.
“We are on a good path, but nothing more. There’s always something to moan about in each game.
“Even today, you will find find a few things that were unnecessary with loss of the ball in the first half that nearly caused trouble, an unnecessary goal that we conceded. So there’s never a perfect performance in football.
“But overall, I would also say that was a top-class performance, more or less during the whole game.”
Farke believed ahead of the game that his players would get back to the way they had been playing before the 6-3 Carabao Cup blip at Chelsea.
He added: “I was full of confidence we could do more of the same if you're on it. And you have to be on it against Newcastle. It's a dangerous side. They have so much quality and pace up front. They're so dangerous out of counter attacks with quick transitions.
“It was crucial to have a good balance out of pressing them with intensity and pressure on the ball, but also to do it out of a good structure and especially good positioning in the last row because they play with so many long balls in behind your last row.
“You can't be caught in one situation any more, and we found a good balance out of high pressure, but also a good organization in our last row. I think this was key.”
Leeds came out pumped up in front of a loud crowd and got Anton Stach clear in the first minute only to be unable to make the most of the attacking position.
An early handball right on the edge of the box did not bring a penalty the home crowd were wanting, but the stage was set for a difficult night for the visiting defenders.
It took Leeds 13 minutes to create their first real chance as Jayden Bogle's turn and shot in the box was matched by a fine save low down by keeper Lukas Hornicek.
The keeper was on hand to deny Bogle again, this time from longer range as he struck a volley well.
The next chance was not so well taken as Nico Elvedi completely miskicked as he attempted a volley following Stach's head on from a Gabriel Gudmundsson cross.
The pressure was building and a goal arrived on 32 minutes. It had some fortune about it with Ao Tanaka's shot from the edge of the box finding the net via two deflections.
Within two minutes it was 2-0 as Leeds swarmed forward again. Bogle intercepted a wayward pass high up the pitch and found James Justin whose perfect cross was met by Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
The striker got his head to the ball, but it deflected into the net off Bogle, who was credited with the goal.
It could have been three soon after when Hornicek could only parry a Gudmundsson low cross and the super sharp Calvert-Lewin was swiftly onto the rebound only for the keeper to make a superb save.
More good football with Tanaka and Bogle at the heart of it led to the latter crossing for Calvert-Lewin, but he could not direct his difficult header on target this time.
A rare threat at the other end saw Harvey Barnes nip in to shoot from seven yards out, but home defender Tarik Muharemovic did well to block his on target shot.
Leeds were soon back on attack and an astute flick by Muharemovic played in Calvert-Lewin, who rounded defender Sven Botman before firing home powerfully to make it 3-0 on the stroke of half-time.
The second half could not match the first for thrills as the Whites sat back a bit more and defended deeper to offset any threats of running in behind from their opponents.
Lewis Hall saw a cross-shot beaten away by James Trafford as he was called onto make a serious save for the first time.
But a minute later Stach brilliantly won the ball off the Newcastle back line and just had the keeper to beat, but sent his shot into the side netting
It was 4-0, however, when Noah Okafor found the back of the net with a well struck angled half-volley from just inside the box.
Now it was just about game management and numerous substitutions by both teams upset the flow of the game.
Newcastle finally exerted some pressure and went close when one of their subs, Joe Willock, hit the top of the crossbar with a far post chip.
Willock then brought a comfortable save out of Trafford with a shot from the edge of the box and it always remained comfortable for the hosts.
Newcastle did manage an 89th minute consolation through Bazoumana Toure after the home defence briefly switched off, but they were well beaten by this stage.
It was Leeds looking more likely to score in added time with Muharemovic heading a Harry Wilson free-kick wide and Dan James shooting over after going on a great run.
(Miley og 32, Bogle 34, Calvert-Lewin 45+1, Okafor 59)
(Toure 89)
Monday, September 14, 2026
Premier League
Attendance: 36,693
Leeds: Trafford 7; Justin 8, Elvedi 7, Muharemovic 8; Bogle 8 (83 James 7), Ampadu 8, Tanaka 7 (72 Aaronson 6), Stach 7 (88 Longstaff), Gudmundsson 8 (72 Bard 7); Okafor 7 (72 Wilson 6), Calvert-Lewin 9 (78 Nmecha 6).
Newcastle: Hornicek 7; Dedic 5 (57 Livramento 6), Thiaw 6, Botman 5, Hall 5; Gonzalez (19 Steur 5), Miley 5 (80 Bamba); Murphy 5 (57 Willock 6), Wissa 6, Barnes 6; Fernandez-Pardo 5 (57 Toure 6).
Referee: Michael Salisbury 6