Leeds United’s Automatic Promotion Hopes Take a Hit
Leeds United’s push for automatic promotion suffered another setback on Saturday, as they were held to a draw against Luton Town, leaving them with just one point from their last three games.
Daniel Farke’s side has hit a rough patch, and with Burnley securing a win, Leeds have now slipped to third place in the table.
They head into Tuesday’s clash with Middlesbrough (8 April) under mounting pressure, desperate to rediscover their winning form.
Goalkeeping Concerns Continue at Leeds
Despite assembling a solid squad that has impressed for much of the campaign, Farke’s team has faltered recently—especially at the back. Goalkeeper Illan Meslier has been heavily criticised for a series of costly errors this season.
In response, Farke handed Karl Darlow a start against Luton. While Darlow avoided any major mistakes, the team’s failure to secure three points has fueled speculation that Farke is already scouting for new goalkeeping options ahead of next season.
One incident before kick-off against Luton seemed to encapsulate Leeds’ recent struggles. According to Graham Smyth in the Yorkshire Evening Post (6 April), a misfired warm-up shot by Alex Cairns flew over the bar into the crowd, prompting an apologetic wave. Tanaka repeated the mistake twice without acknowledgment, drawing a glare from fitness coach Chris Domogalla. One stray shot even injured a supporter, requiring a hospital visit.
Farke Must Lift Leeds Before It’s Too Late
While rival fans may poke fun at Leeds’ typical late-season slump, there are genuine concerns at Elland Road that history may be repeating itself.
Farke may be planning for next season, but much hinges on which division Leeds are playing in. Transfer plans will look very different if they fail to secure promotion.
There’s no need to hit the panic button just yet—Leeds sit just two points behind table-toppers Burnley. However, the margin for error is shrinking fast, and Farke’s men cannot allow that gap to widen.
A top-two finish is crucial for Leeds.
With confidence low, a midweek away trip might not be ideal. Farke would no doubt prefer more time on the training ground. However, the team must channel their frustration into a strong performance against Middlesbrough, in what promises to be another tough fixture.
Given Leeds’ disappointing history in the play-offs, automatic promotion remains the clear objective. They’ll need to get back on track quickly to keep that dream alive.
Smyth shares why the Leeds goalkeeper apologised to fans after incident before kick-off v Luton
