Leeds United

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Daniel Farke was magnanimous in defeat after Leeds went down 1-0 at Portsmouth to stay top of the Championship on goal difference alone.

Colby Bishop's clinical angled finish over Illan Meslier proved the difference, just after the hour, though Blues keeper Nicolas Schmid had to make a string of vital saves in both halves to keep the visitors at bay.

Joel Piroe and Dan James also spurned fine chances and Junior Firpo hit the bar with a header as Leeds' 17-game unbeaten league run came to an end.

"First of all I want to say congratulations to Portsmouth for an important game and win for them," Farke told BBC Radio Leeds.

"Of course I'm disappointed with the outcome and the loss, I was fully aware that this would be one of the toughest, if not the toughest game, in our run-in.

"They are in red-hot form at home and we expected how they played, physical, direct and aggressive.

"We coped with many situations really well but we have created so many good chances in this game and you just have to put them to bed."

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Leeds United boss Daniel Farke said he does not value his Manager of the Month award "as much as he should do".

The German took the award for February after a stellar month for Leeds, who won all five of their league matches, scoring 18 goals.

"Manager of the Year would not be bad! But, of course, I take it," Farke told BBC Radio Leeds.

"It's football - it's not just a season, it doesn't go for one month and the perfect February. You also have to make sure for all the other months you're also on the top level.

"I'm just looking forward to being prepared for the next game, so at the moment, I don't value them that much. Not like I perhaps should do, but there's no time."

Farke was not the only one at Leeds to be heralded for their performance in February. Winger Dan James was awarded Player of the Month, which his boss said is all down to the Wales international's "hard work" and "dedication".

"I'm a big believer that you always get what you are willing to invest," Farke added.

"Daniel is an outstanding player, special with his skills, but what has at least the same importance is his personality - he is an unbelievable, great lad, a great team-mate, always thinking about the team - also works his socks off."

Meanwhile, forward Patrick Bamford is back in training and "making progress" towards a full recovery after nine weeks out with a hamstring injury.

As for midfielder Ethan Ampadu and defender Max Wober, they could see their returns on the other side of the upcoming international break.

The final game of the Championship weekend sees leaders Leeds United travel to Portsmouth on Sunday (12:00 GMT).

Daniel Farke's side are unbeaten in 17 league games but could be level on points at the summit when they head to the south coast, if Sheffield United win on Saturday.

John Mousinho's Blues go into the weekend in 17th, with an eight-point cushion over the relegation zone.

• Portsmouth are winless across their past five league games against Leeds United (D4 L1), after the pair drew 3-3 at Elland Road in August.

• Leeds United have failed to win any of their past six away league games against Portsmouth (D4 L2), since a 3-2 victory at Fratton Park in April 1986.

• Portsmouth have won eight of their past 11 home Championship matches (D2 L1), having failed to win any of their first six home games this season (D3 L3).

• Leeds United are unbeaten in their past 17 Championship games (W12 D5), their best unbeaten run in the league since going 30 games without defeat between May 1973 and February 1974 under Don Revie.

• This game will kick off at 12pm with Leeds picking up just 1.22 points per game in league fixtures this season that have kicked off earlier than 3pm (P9 W2 D5 L2), compared to 2.50 points per game in games that have kicked off at 3pm or later (P26 W20 D5 L1).

Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter

Image source, Rex Features

Nobody has had more minutes on the pitch this season for Leeds United than defender Joe Rodon.

The Wales international has started every one of the club's 35 league games after which they sit top of the Championship.

He is a warrior, often battered and bruised, but always there for his team-mates.

"I feel good to be fair," he told BBC Radio Leeds.

"I think having the experience last season opened my eyes to the whole schedule with the league.

"It's crazy as everyone knows, but every player wants to play every minute and this is what I came here to do. I'm enjoying every minute of it."

Rodon, 27, plays with his heart on his sleeve and goes where others may fear to tread.

"This season I've had more head knocks than I'd like," he said.

"I try not to, to be honest. It does hurt. But if it happens, It happens. I guess that's part of the game I'm just used to it now."

It's that attitude which sees him drive the side on from the back with his marauding runs and towering headers.

But also with his vocal presence.

"I'm normally quite loud on the pitch anyway just in communicating with the team in order to try and help - to make other people's jobs easier," he added.

Rodon is not afraid to hold his team-mates to account on the pitch if things are not quite right.

It's a trait that has somewhat dissipated from the modern game.

"The boss can get on to me about this, to always be positive," he said.

"I'm a really competitive person. So I think frustration and emotion creeps into that. I think it's the same for a lot of players, but yeah, I'm just really, really competitive. I'm a competitive problem.

"I don't mean that in a negative way. It's more of a kind of a pick me up to work harder and do more."

With his captain and compatriot Ethan Ampadu (knee) out for the foreseeable future does Rodon feel more of a responsibility to step up?

"I always try to take the lead and lift it more, to help and to bring my say to it," he said.

"So I guess without Ethan's presence there's a bit of that.

"There are a lot of other leaders in this dressing room, especially people like Junior (Firpo) as well who can benefit and lead the team.

"I just love talking on the pitch to be honest, I just can't help it."

Don't ever change Joe! Communication is key to success.

Listen to West Yorkshire Sport Daily, weeknights at 18:00 GMT, and subscribe to BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast on BBC Sounds

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Plymouth forward Ryan Hardie, Leeds United winger Dan James, Portsmouth wide man Josh Murphy and Norwich City striker Josh Sargent are the four nominees for February's Championship player of the month award.

Hardie only played 101 minutes across three league games for Argyle last month but still netted four goals, scoring twice from the bench late on in the 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion and another double in the 5-1 thrashing of Millwall.

James was in scintillating form for the Whites, scoring three goals and providing four assists in five games in February.

The 27-year-old netted one, set-up two and won a penalty in the 7-0 hammering of Cardiff, scored twice in the 4-0 win at Watford and laid on both goals in the vital 2-1 victory at title rivals Sheffield United.

Murphy provided four assists and scored one goal in five games for Portsmouth as they pulled further clear of the relegation zone in February with a draw and three wins, including a 2-1 victory against QPR in which the winger curled in a wonderful effort.

Sargent was prolific throughout February, scoring five goals in five games for Norwich City to take his overall tally for the league season to 11 in 21 appearances.

"I think it's going to be too much for Junior Firpo in the Premier League - but if there's a role for him to play in a system that allows him to be full on Alioski-esque then maybe."

With Leeds leading the Championship, is there room for the likes of Junior Firpo and Illan Meslier next season should they return to the top flight?

Adam Pope and Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix discuss realistic expectations for Leeds, the quizzical struggle at lunchtime and whether boss Daniel Farke deserves his own chant.

Episode 143, called "Center Farkes", of our Leeds United podcast 'Don't Go To Bed Just Yet' is available to download right now via the BBC Sounds app.

Adonis Storr
Fan writer

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As reported by the Daily Mail, external, Leeds CEO Angus Kinnear seems like he will be joining Everton at the end of this season.

Kinnear has had a turbulent time at United, and it has always been unclear precisely what decisions he was responsible for.

Other leaders within the club have been assigned the responsibility for many of the major decisions during his tenure.

Leeds peaked at ninth in the Premier League under Kinnear, but it was Marcelo Bielsa who was credited with that rise. And rightly so, Bielsa transformed the mid-table Championship squad he inherited.

And ultimately Victor Orta was credited with the hiring of the Argentinian.

Orta – a larger than life figure – was praised and criticised in equal measure during his time at Leeds. He brought Bielsa to the club, but for every Raphinha-type signing there was a Diego Llorente-type; and of course Jesse Marsch who failed spectacularly, was also Orta's man.

Andrea Radrizzani's imprint on certain decisions could be more easily inferred. Six weeks after Leeds went on a much-criticised, post-season tour of Myanmar, Radrizzani's Eleven Sports signed a global rights deal to broadcast the Myanmar National League.

Perhaps the clearest indication of Kinnear's input were his programme notes and his annual interview with the Square Ball podcast.

The now abandoned programme notes made national news in December 2021 when he branded calls for an independent football regulator as "Maoist".

Some CEOs become synonymous with their brands. Kinnear's strategy of shirking the spotlight seems deliberate, perhaps to avoid the kind of scrutiny that Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is currently experiencing.

Perhaps only in Angus' absence will Leeds fans get an appreciation of the impact he had. Clearly Everton see the value of him.

But Kinnear's departure will mark the completion of 49ers Enterprises restructure, as they leave one of the last links to Radrizzani's ownership behind.

Find more from Adonis Storr at The Roaring Peacock, external

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If Leeds United go up as Championship winners this season, as expected, there maybe as few as two sides who Daniel Farke's team will have not beaten - and Tony Mowbray can take comfort that, along with third-placed Burnley, one of them is West Bromwich Albion.

After being held to a dreary 0-0 draw at The Hawthorns by Carlos Corberan's Baggies back in August, Mowbray's men more than matched that by drawing 1-1 at Elland Road, having come from a goal down.

Under Farke, Leeds have never lost a league game in which has side scored first - and he had nothing but praise for the way Albion battled back to draw and also come closest to winning it.

"Sometimes you have to settle for a draw," Farke told BBC Radio Leeds.

"We have had to this time against a really good side. West Brom got a foot back into it and you could see it coming.

"Tony Mowbray's sides always go for it. They are always brave and have a lot of quality. We had situations to bury the game but the danger was lurking."

Mowbray himself was satisfied by his side's hardest fought away point of the season. But he also knew how close they had come to an even better result.

"We believe we can win wherever we go," Mowbray told BBC Radio WM. "West Bromwich Albion are a big club.

"We know how good a side they (Leeds) are, but we came to be competitive.

"We possibly gave them a little too much respect early on, but we grew into the game. We could have scored before they did, but we got our rewards in the end."

Lewis Deighton
Fan writer

Image source, Rex Features

Leeds keep cruising and I keep bruising – that away end at Bramall Lane was not for the weak. It's apt that Tanaka's first name is pronounced 'ow' because my shins are so battered that you'd think Farke subbed me on.

"Who better to play next then than seemingly our title contenders in Sheffield United?"

I wrote that last week after our late comeback against Sunderland, and who better indeed. Make that consecutive wins against promotion rivals in dramatic fashion.

I touched last week on the similarities between our comeback against Sunderland and the one against Leicester a year prior – not expecting an even closer parallel just seven days later.

Leicester went ahead in the 15th minute. Blades went ahead in the 14th. We won both games 3-1 having trailed in the 70th minute. We scored two goals inside three minutes after the 79th minute in both. We scored after the 88th minute in both. Coming a year and a day apart, it's almost freaky how alike they are.

Rather like Sunderland, Chris Wilder's side nullified us for a large portion of the game – but through sheer blind hope I was convinced that an equaliser would come out of nowhere and turn the tide.

At 1-1 I'd like to say that I saw us winning it but honestly I just wanted the full-time whistle. Did anyone foresee Ao Tanaka popping up for a header in the 89th minute? I love that man. There were about three seconds where you could hear a pin drop and then so much noise that I could barely hear myself.

People were still picking themselves up off the floor as Joel Piroe struck for the third. A mere minute between the goals and absolute carnage ensued. An elderly gentleman who'd been stood behind me was somehow several rows in front of me once everything calmed down – enough said.

Any suggestion that we are boring to watch is in the past. Too early to say that we're winning the Championship – but we are certainly lighting it up.

Leeds will seek to open an eight-point lead at the top of the Championship, for a few hours at least, when they welcome West Bromwich Albion to Elland Road on Saturday (12:30 GMT).

Daniel Farke's side have come from behind to beat Sunderland and Sheffield United late-on in their past two games, to make it five straight league wins and extend their unbeaten run in the Championship to 16 matches.

The inconsistent Baggies remain in fifth despite having won three and lost three in their past seven games and are nine without a win on the road dating back to November.

• Leeds United have lost just one of their past eight league games against West Bromwich Albion (W4 D3), though have failed to score in their last two meetings with the Baggies.

• West Bromwich Albion have won just one of their past 13 away league games against Leeds United (D4 L8), a 3-2 victory in January 2007.

• Leeds have won 13 of their past 14 home league games (D1), with the victories across that time coming via a combined 38-3 scoreline.

• After winning their last league game 2-0 against Oxford United, West Brom will be looking to claim successive victories for the first time since a run of four in August/September.

• Joel Piroe has scored five goals in his past five Championship appearances for Leeds United, although he hasn't scored in either of his games against West Brom for the Whites.

Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter

Image source, Rex Features

Relentless Leeds United take a 16-game unbeaten Championship run into the Saturday lunchtime visit of West Bromwich Albion.

After the dramatic nature of the two late victories over promotion rivals Sunderland and Sheffield United, a routine win over Tony Mowbray's side would probably be welcome to reduce the heart rate around Elland Road.

• The team news centres on the captain Ethan Ampadu (knee) who Leeds have opted not to send for surgery in the hope he could still play a part this season.

• In terms of back-up in central defence, Farke says he has cover with James Debayo, Josuha Guilavogui and also Sam Byram. Meanhwhile he is hoping right-back Jayden Bogle "does not have to give away a tactical foul" and earn a tenth caution in the next three games as it would rule him out for two matches.

• On Patrick Bamford's recovery from a hamstring injury: "Struggling to give a time frame. At the start of January, I said four to six weeks. He is still feeling something. He is ot back in team training yet and is working desperately to get back."

• Defender Max Wober (knee) is expected back after the international break.

• On West Bromwich Albion: Farke is an admirer of Tony Mowbray who he says sets up to attack and has noticed that since he became Carlos Corberan's permanent replacement, the Baggies have been far more possession-based and adventurous.

• After reports linking CEO Angus Kinnear with a role at Everton: "If you are doing well as a club there's lots of interest. If a club is progressing well, players and staff will get interest. It belongs to this business of doing well. When I was younger, I would be more bothered by this stuff. Not a topic to comment on."

Listen to West Yorkshire Sport Daily, weeknights at 18:00, and subscribe to BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast on BBC Sounds

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Leeds United have opted not to send captain Ethan Ampadu for surgery on his injured right knee.

The Wales international, 24, missed Monday's top-of-the-table Championship win at Sheffield United on Monday, and was expected to require an operation but boss Daniel Farke has revealed he could still return before the end of the season.

"The cartilage issue is complicated. Surgery would have meant him being out for the season, so we've decided to go the conservative route," Farke told BBC Radio Leeds.

"The initial decision is for him not to undergo surgery, so a conservative approach has been adopted. It's hoped he could return in four to six weeks."

Ampadu, who plays both in defence and midfield, has made 21 league appearances for the Championship leaders this season, but missed 12 games earlier in the campaign after injuring his left knee against Coventry City in September.

That injury led to him missing four matches of Wales' autumn Nations League campaign, and he is almost certain to sit out the World Cup qualifiers at home to Kazakhstan on 22 March and in North Macedonia three days later.

Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter

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Who wouldn't want a slice of Leeds United, hey?

Back-to-back heart-stopping victories in not dissimilar fashion to the 2018-19 season when United came from two down at Aston Villa to win 3-2 and then win by the same scoreline, having lost a first-half lead, to Blackburn Rovers with a last minute brace from Kemar Roofe on Boxing Day were worth anyone's money.

If that was prime Marcelo Bielsa then Daniel Farke is in his own prime at Elland Road right now. Coming from behind to beat two promotion rivals in Sunderland and then Sheffield United in the final knockings of crackling atmospheres is why football has us addicted.

When it means more, like a promotion-beckoning moment, then the rush is fierce. Harnessing the ride Leeds United provides makes the club even more attractive, especially to investors.

Quite simply, nobody does it quite like Leeds.

Red Bull have a significant financial interest, but not to the same extent as owners San Francisco 49ers Enterprises, and that, according to club chairman Paraag Marathe, is not an equation he sees flipping.

"That's not contemplated at all," he revealed when asked if the energy drinks giant could takeover when speaking at the Financial Times Business of Football Summit this week. "There is no language to that effect. It's not something we have discussed ever."

That may be so, but the trajectory Leeds are on will only increase the desire for Red Bull and others to have more of this special and unique club on the verge of completing its return to the lucrative trappings of the Premier League.

Now it appears Marathe and the 49ers feel the opportunities for commercial growth, and therefore returns for their investors, is available elsewhere. Scottish giants Rangers are reportedly in their sights.

"I can't really comment on whatever rumours might be out there," Marathe added. "But we are looking at other opportunities. It is doable to replicate the passion [of Leeds].

"What we are looking for is clubs with the right bones, history of success and potential for growth."

With technical director Gretar Steinsson announced recently as being set to join the 49ers Enterprises' executive global football structure, a multi-club football model seems imminent.

Marathe will be delighted to expand the family, adding "absolutely there is enough room in your heart to love all your sports properties, just like there is to love all your children!"

But no two children are the same, with some needing more attention than others... and nobody puts Leeds United in a corner.

Listen to West Yorkshire Sport Daily, weeknights at 18:00, and subscribe to BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast on BBC Sounds

Leeds United extended their lead at the top of the Championship to five points after another dramatic victory at closest rivals Sheffield United on Monday night.

Daniel Farke was 'up a height', the game was tight and there was a fight on a night to remember for Jonny Buchan, Adam Pope and Kaiser Chiefs' bassist Simon Rix.

Episode 142 called "Trench Coat Parachute" of our Leeds United podcast 'Don't Go To Bed Just Yet' is available to download right now via the BBC Sounds app!