Leeds boss Daniel Farke said the manner of his side’s victory over Sky Bet promotion rivals Sunderland was “the best you can have in football”.
Substitute Pascal Struijk headed home a stoppage-time winner, having earlier cancelled out Wilson Isidor’s first-half opener for Sunderland with a 78th-minute equaliser, to snatch a 2-1 win for Leeds at Elland Road.
Leeds returned to the top of the table, two points above Sheffield United and seven clear of third-placed Burnley, after extending their unbeaten league run to 15 matches.

Farke said: “These are the best wins you can have. Seven-nil and 4-0, everything easy, that’s nice, but this type of win, two really good sides against each other and a tight game.
“You have to fight and grind and dig in and, in the end, a deserved win. But the last second of the game – these types of wins are the best wins you can have in football.
“They’re the best wins for the supporters, the whole group, the staff and the players.
“These are the biggest emotions, priceless points, exactly in this manner, and for that, yes it’s a great night for everyone connected with Leeds United.”
🔝 How crucial could that win be for @LUFC?#EFL | #SkyBetChampionship pic.twitter.com/IR841WNg7r
— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) February 17, 2025
Farke’s side have won 13 of their last 14 league games at Elland Road and will now look to give their title hopes a further boost next Monday against the Blades at Bramall Lane.
But the German head coach is facing a touchline ban for the top-of-the-table clash after being booked for running on to the pitch while celebrating Struijk’s last-gasp winner.
“In 17 years as a manager in professional football before this season I had exactly one yellow card. I’ve never been sent off and I’m pretty proud of this,” Farke added.
“If I miss the game at Bramall Lane on Monday due to a goal celebration in the 95th minute, then I have to take it.
👊 𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐃! pic.twitter.com/tcv3dqNKb8
— Leeds United (@LUFC) February 17, 2025
“But I’m not sure in the spirit of the game if it would be fair. If the yellow card was for me, and if it’s right to give me one in such a situation, then I will accept the rules, of course. I just doubt it’s in the spirit of the game.”
Sunderland were good value for their interval lead and appeared on course to cut the gap on Leeds to four points before Struijk’s late intervention.
The Black Cats are now eight points adrift of the top two after their eight-game unbeaten league run was halted, but head coach Regis Le Bris said he was proud of his players.
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) February 17, 2025
The Frenchman said: “I think it was fair for us to score the goal and to be leading at half-time.
“I thought the second half was more difficult because they built strong momentum and we didn’t find the solution to break their dynamic.
“With the crowd, the energy of the stadium – it was always increasing and even with our subs, we didn’t find the solution to change this energy.”
David Moyes believes James Tarkowski was lucky to avoid a red card for his reckless challenge on Alexis Mac Allister as Everton were beaten 1-0 by Liverpool on a controversial night at Anfield.Diogo Jota’s 57th-minute goal, which Moyes claimed should have been ruled out for offside, gave Liverpool a 100th derby win and moved them a step closer to the Premier League title, but both sides were...

Jack Grealish dedicated his goal to his late brother after scoring in Manchester City’s 2-0 win over relegation-threatened Leicester on Wednesday.The England international hit his first Premier League goal for 16 months, on his first start in the competition since last December, as City moved back into fourth with a comfortable success at the Etihad Stadium.It came on the 25th anniversary of...

David Moyes bemoaned an “offside” goal that gave Liverpool a 1-0 win over Everton – but admitted James Tarkowski was lucky to avoid an early red card on a controversial night at Anfield.Diogo Jota’s 57th-minute goal gave Liverpool a 100th derby win and moved them a step closer to the Premier League title, but both sides were left unhappy with decisions from referee Sam Barr...

Eddie Howe hailed Sandro Tonali’s shooting power after seeing him cap a fine display with a stunning winner to edge Newcastle into the race for Champions League qualification.The 24-year-old Italy international brought an incident-packed encounter to a fitting conclusion with a 74th-minute piledriver which beat goalkeeper Mark Flekken from an improbable angle to hand the Magpies a precious 2...

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery believes Marcus Rashford is “progressively getting better” in all aspects of his game following his first Premier League goal for the club.The on-loan Manchester United forward set Villa on course for a comprehensive 3-0 win over fellow European hopefuls Brighton with a 51st-minute finish at the Amex Stadium.Rashford’s milestone strike came three days ...

Southampton boss Ivan Juric vowed to keep fighting as relegation moved sharply into focus after Crystal Palace denied them only a third Premier League win of the season.Substitute Matheus Franca’s stoppage-time header, to secure a 1-1 draw for the Eagles, means Saints will be down at the weekend if they lose at Tottenham and Wolves beat Ipswich.If relegation is confirmed on Sunday, Southampt...

Derby boss John Eustace insists his side are reaping the rewards for the hard work they have put in since he was appointed as manager after the Rams earned a 2-0 win over Preston to climb out of the Sky Bet Championship relegation zone.Derby came out firing after a lacklustre opening period and Craig Forsyth coolly slotted the hosts in front with his fourth goal of the season.The Rams doubled thei...

Notts County manager Stuart Maynard hailed a “massive” three points as his side comfortably saw off MK Dons at Meadow Lane to maintain their promotion challenge.Two stunning strikes from David McGoldrick and Will Jarvis from the edge of the box, either side of Nick Tsaroulla’s close-range effort, earned County a convincing 3-0 win.“I think every three points is massive now,...

Kieran McKenna was not getting too giddy dreaming of a miracle escape from relegation after Ipswich beat Bournemouth 2-1 to pick up their first Premier League win of 2025.Goals from Nathan Broadhead and top-scorer Liam Delap did the damage as Ipswich put a further dent in Bournemouth’s hopes of qualifying for Europe.McKenna, whose side are still nine points adrift of 17th-placed Wolves who t...

Liverpool re-established their 12-point lead at the top of the Premier League with Diogo Jota’s strike against Everton settling a second controversial Merseyside derby of the season.Jota’s first league goal since mid-January was potentially one of his most important of the campaign as the 1-0 victory kept second-placed Arsenal at more than arm’s length.It also ended Everton manag...



- 1 Hot WAG flaunts 'astonishing' washboard abs in bikini
- 2 Danny Rohl hails Sheffield Wednesday resilience in draw at Cardiff
- 3 Alfie May double sends Birmingham step closer to Championship
- 4 Marcus Rashford scores first Premier League goal for Villa in win at Brighton
- 5 Ryan Lowe and Conor Hourihane felt team deserved more as Wigan and Barnsley draw
- 6 Mat Sadler hails Taylor Allen set-piece skills after Walsall snatch draw
- 7 Chris Davies says Alfie May’s goal drought never concerned him
- 8 Football fan 'eats' raw pig's head in ultimate insult
- 9 Marcus Rashford still looking to improve after firing Villa into FA Cup semis
- 10 Chelsea prepare €70m for Barcelona defender