Leeds defeated Middlesbrough 1-0 on Tuesday to reclaim the top spot in the Championship standings this week.
Due to a recent slump in performance, Daniel Farke’s team dropped to third place in the standings and lost their place in the automatic promotion slots.
But the Whites got back on track after their triumph at Riverside Stadium, where Burnley and Sheffield United both lost.
Farke is anxious to ensure that his team doesn’t lose again because the victory over Middlesbrough wasn’t without controversy.
The key factor for Leeds was gaining all three points against Middlesbrough, which helped them return to the top of the table.
But in the end, the outcome was far closer than Farke would have like and closer than was necessary.
During the match, both Patrick Bamford and Ao Tanaka had the ball in the net, but their goals were disallowed.
Leeds had already taken the lead through a goal from Dan James, but the next two goals were declared offside by assistant referee Darren Williams.
Most people agree that the goals that were disallowed were both unfair, and that two errors could not have been pardoned, even though one might have been.
Farke disclosed at his pregame press conference that he spoke with PGMOL official Kevin Friend over the phone on the rulings that prevented his team from scoring goals.
“I will not discuss it in public, as that would be a lack of class,” the boss declared.
“He wants [his staff] to perform well, and I want my players to perform well.”
Following his error against Leeds, Williams appears to have been demoted to League One for the upcoming round of games in the weekend’s officials’ announcement.
It’s easy to see why Farke was upset with the calls that cost his team two goals that, on another night, might have defined the Whites’ season.
Leeds did, however, win all three points, and they now need to focus on their matchup with Preston North End on Saturday, April 12, at Elland Road.
They must be at the top of their game because the Whites, who haven’t been kind to Farke’s team this season, will be starting early.
The West Yorkshire team will be well aware that there is no room for error now, having already lost their advantage at the top of the table.
The fight for automatic promotion, which now has Burnley tied for second place and the Blades just two points ahead, might alter this weekend and again before the season is out.
