Leeds United marching on towards safety after another big three points against Burnley - but Daniel Farke wants more
Premier League survival is within touching distance for Leeds United now after they made it three wins from their last four games with a 3-1 home success against relegated Burnley.
After victory in the possible banana skin game the Whites will now be mathematically safe if they win at Tottenham in their next game.
With their tally of 43 points it is possible they do not need another point from the three remaining games, but manager Daniel Farke wants his team to make sure they finish the season positively.
After seeing his side take 10 points from their last four league games he said: "We will just celebrate when it's mathematically done.
"It's not a question I ask myself, I don't want to stop on 43. We're in such good shape, delivering so many good performances.
“I said before the game 12 points to fight for, we have the first three under our belt and want to win the following nine.
"I'm just proud of my players and have to give them many compliments. In such a pressure period to win 10 points from the last four, six unbeaten, feels amazing.
“We have missed Joe Rodon, Anton Stach, Jaka Bijol. Noah Okafor has had problems. The work ethic and spirit in the dressing room is second to none.”
On the victory over Burnley, Farke added: "Massive win for us and of course the first goal in such a pressure game, against an already relegated side, it's always tricky.
"They're good footballers, a compact side. Always important to find a good balance, to not run into counters and to try and open them. You just have to ask Man City last game day, it's not easy to score goals against them.
It was a fantastic goal from Anton to score the first. It was crucial not to allow any chances for them and hold the intensity in our pressing high.
“It was important to stay with the foot on the gas, a fantastic team goal and another hard-fought goal.
“You still get a bit nervous when they score, already having taken important players off with a few little injuries. It was important to bring it over the line and be on 43 points."
Leeds made another of their fast starts at Elland Road as they were ahead from the eighth minute.
Anton Stach's left foot shot from all of 30 yards looked speculative after he took a smart pass from Jaka Bijol, but it found the bottom corner of the net to ease any nerves early doors and shake off some of the disappointment of the FA Cup semi-final defeat from the previous weekend.
Stach had another chance a minute later, but sent his free-kick over after Dominic Calvert-Lewin had been tripped and pulled back when in a good position just outside the box – and defender Maxime Esteve somehow avoided a booking for this.
Referee Thomas Bramall – who controversially sent-off Gabriel Gudmundsson in his previous Leeds game in charge – was centre of attention again with some horribly inconsistent decisions that showed he had not improved from his previous performance involving the Whites.
Thankfully none of his poor decisions led to a goal and United could get on with the business of earning their vital three points that puts them nine ahead of Tottenham and seven in front of West Ham.
They have even gone above Newcastle ahead of the rest of the weekend's games, are level with Crystal Palace in 13th and just seven points behind Brighton in sixth.
In truth the first half was not their best display after their strong start, although Ethan Ampadu had a shot blocked when well set up by Stach and a follow-up half-volley was sent over by Ao Tanaka then Stach's effort from close range was deflected over.
Burnley were lucky when an attempted clearance by Esteve bounced back off James Justin and went straight to keeper Martin Dubravka.
The visitors did not manage their first effort until the 44th minute when Jaidon Anthony's header was blocked by teammate Zian Flemming – and that came after what should have been a free-kick to the Whites at the other end for a push on Tanaka that was not given by Bramall.
Leeds finished the half as they started it with pressure that saw Justin's angled shot saved at two attempts by Dubravka and Stach sending a half-volley over from the edge of the box.
Burnley were more adventurous in the second half as they forced home keeper Karl Darlow into his first save, an easy one after James Ward-Prowse's shot was deflected straight to him.
But United were back on top and Stach's goalbound shot had to be cleared by defender Esteve.
Within five minutes it was 3-0 as a purple patch saw them score two goals to take the game right away from their opponents.
First was a goal of the season contender as Calvert-Lewin burst forward on a great run from half-way and his back heel pass was perfect to set Jayden Bogle free to produce a perfect far post chip. There to meet it was Noah Okafor and his volley sent the ball into the corner of the net for a real beauty.
Within three minutes they were further ahead when Tanaka's angled shot could only be parried by Dubravka and Calvert-Lewin was in like a flash to put home the rebound from close range for his 13th goal of the season.
It was not quite the game over it should have been as Burnley produced a spirited finish to the game with Hannibal pulling the strings from midfield after coming on as a substitute – to many boos after his previous behaviour against Leeds.
Maybe it had become too easy, but the Whites switched off for a spell and after Bashir Humphreys' shot was parried by Darlow the follow-up from Lucas Pires saw the ball put in the net. The linesman's flag went up, but replays showed it was offside by the smallest of margins, much to the relief of the home fans.
It was a warning and not heeded as four minutes later Loum Tchaouna raced onto Anthony's pass and took advantage of hesitant defending by Pascal Struijk to fire past Darlow to make it 3-1.
A few more nervy moments followed before United got a grip again and Bogle's terrific run down the right led to a cross that could not be put away by sub Lukas Nmecha.
Joe Rodon's header from a corner was saved by Dubravka then Leeds settled for running the clock down to make sure of their victory.
Burnley managed one chance in the nine-and-a-half minutes of added time, but knew it was over for them when Anthony sent the ball over after turning well in the box.
The Whites could have added to their lead with the last move of the game as Dan James raced clear only to be unable to beat the keeper.
(Stach 8, Okafor 53, Calvert-Lewin 56)
Burnley 1
(Tchaouna 71)
Friday, May 1, 2026
Premier League
Attendance: 36,265
Leeds: Darlow; Rodon, Bijol, Struijk; Bogle (James 90+4), Ampadu, Tanaka (Longstaff 72), Justin; Stach (Aaronson 72), Okafor (Nmecha 64); Calvert-Lewin (Gnonto 90+4).
Burnley: Dubravka; Walker, Ekdal, Esteve, Humphreys (Amdouni 76); Laurent (Hannibal 54), Ward-Prowse (Florentino 64); Tchaouna, Hartman (Pires 64), Anthony; Flemming (Broja 76).
Referee: Thomas Bramall