Daniel Farke is not dancing as 'dominant' Leeds United have to settle for a point at Sunderland
Leeds United boss Daniel Farke had mixed emotions after seeing his side battle to a point at Sunderland.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin's seventh goal in six matches ensured the White came away from the Stadium of Light with a 1-1 draw after they trailed at half-time, but the manager reckoned United had dominated the last hour of the game and should have taken all three points.
He said: “A great mentality to come back out of a losing position. Then of course, another point on the table. For the table, we have improved our situation further on in a difficult away game.
“No other team has come away with a better result here so far in this Premier League season. Sunderland are unbeaten here at home, so it is definitely a good point.
“The performance from minute 30 on, I think we dominated this game. Mood-wise, I am a bit in-between.
“We got so much praise for our win last weekend when we scored four goals out of set pieces. I think we forgot a bit to show also the second part of our DNA.
“The second part of our DNA in football is to dominate the ball, to be brave on the ball and to be proactive to take the game to the opponents and to create chances to score goals.
“This is what we did then more or less from minute 30 on. The goal, excellent team goal, was a consequence out of this, and I have to give lots of credit for this away performance from minute 30 on.
“We take the point, it is a good point, especially coming back out of a losing position but no dancing tonight, because it was definitely also possible (to win).”
The point came at a cost with the loss of key defender Joe Rodon after he suffered an ankle injury as a result of a foul that went unpunished by referee Tony Harrington, who further angered Leeds supporters with some inconsistent decisions – not least in the second half when Calvert-Lewin was bundled off the ball right on the edge of the box. No penalty nor free-kick or card was forthcoming.
Welsh international Rodon is set to miss at least the next three league matches with Farke explaining: "Joe is my warrior. Has played so many games in a row, and of course he wanted to stay on the pitch, but right now, got a hit on his ankle and by doing this I think he also rolled his ankle, and it's pretty swollen.
“At the moment, I doubt that he will be available for Liverpool and also for the upcoming games before the FA Cup game. So we have to wait for some further assessment. But right now, straight after the game, it doesn't look too good."
Leeds looked comfortable for much of the match, but after a couple of half-chances were spurned they fell behind as Simon Adingra came up with a superb finish with an angled shot after being found by Granit Xhaka just inside the box.
There was irony in the goal as it was Adingra's foul that had injured Rodon and the United defender was still hobbling then was unable to get out fast enough to play the Sunderland winger offside.
The next irony was that Rodon's departure straight after the goal led to a marked improvement from the visitors as they switched to a 4-3-3 system from their back three and went on to dominate much of the remainder of the game.
They came close to levelling before half-time when Brenden Aaronson's shot was well saved after he was found by Calvert-Lewin in the area, but Sunderland also fashioned a great chance when Brian Brobbey hit the crossbar with a header.
United's good work continued at the start of the second half and they were level when Calvert-Lewin smartly finished off a brilliant length of the field passing move in which every player touched the ball.
They should have been in front soon after, but Jayden Bogle was unable to convert a cross from close range.
More half-chances came and went and Leeds were unable to turn pressure into goals, eventually having to settle for a point.
Sunderland 1
(Adingra 28)
(Calvert-Lewin 47)
Sunday, December 28, 2025
Premier League
Attendance: 46,675
Sunderland: Roefs; Hume, Mukiele, Alderete, Cirkin; Xhaka, Geertruida; Rigg (Mayenda 68), Le Fee, Adingra (Mundle 85); Brobbey (Isidor 68).
Leeds: Perri; Rodon (Tanaka 31), Bijol, Struijk; Bogle, Ampadu, Stach, Aaronson, Gudmundsson; Okafor (Nmecha 73), Calvert-Lewin (Gnonto 84).
Referee: Tony Harrington