Leeds still need to improve one aspect but only one thing mattered vs Tottenham

Oh how Leeds United needed that win. Angst had grown around the club about the lack of a victory in five games and Tottenham Hotspur came to Elland Road in good form.

A sixth winless game would have seen the bubbling concern fester over the international break and it is telling that several Leeds players mentioned post-match that they can now go into the break in a good mood.

Harry Wilson admitted he at least had started to look over his shoulder after the languid run of form. It was him who, for all intents and purposes, combined with Noah Okafor to grab the winner.

The game had looked like it was headed towards another goalless draw. Leeds were better in attack in the second half, and ended the game with 2.02xG against Tottenham’s 0.77. Even without Okafor’s strike, Leeds would still have had 1.49xG. They forced in 16 shots in total, albeit only four were on target - the same as Tottenham, who had seven efforts at goal.

In previous games, Leeds had failed to create quality chances. On Saturday, they were wasteful at times - Ao Tanaka firing over in space inside the box and Nico Elvedi heading wide from a few yards out. But Leeds did find that edge, and that’s all that counts. There is room for improvement but Leeds took a good step forwards in this direction

And ultimately, only one thing counts. This was about getting that third win of the season which completely changes the complexion of the start of the season. Leeds are three points better than last season and right now are tracking to get more than 50 points. The mood is transformed. It could have ended much differently, though…

Bogle escapes a red card

In real time, the incident looked innocuous and minor. Mathys Tel looked in a lot of pain on the floor and eventually had to be taken off. Replays showed Jayden Bogle had planted studs on his standing ankle, rolling it and causing Tel to writhe around.

One telling aspect was that the Spurs medical staff were not in a rush to get on - they too clearly initially felt the tackle was not that grave, as did Elland Road, who accused Tel of trying to con referee Jon Brooks before he was substituted.

Slow-motion replays meant VAR mulled over a red card decision for a long period of time, so much that six minutes had to be added on at the end of the half. Bogle - who did not go in with purposeful intent - did catch Tel, and in the past red cards have been given such incidents.

Penalty appeal

Leeds can perhaps feel aggrieved they did not get a penalty for a handball appeal on Matheus Fernandes. The midfielder leaned towards the ball when trying to chest a ball back to his goalkeeper but it seemed to hit his T-shirt line.

VAR did check the incident but ruled it not clear and obvious. The Premier League later explained why the appeal was turned down after assessment.

Releasing the VAR audio, the explanation given was: “Confirming the on-field decision of play on. The ball strikes the very top of the arm as he is leaning – in the green zone”.

Regardless if the ball did hit the green zone, Fernandes was very lucky to get away without conceding a penalty - an inch lower and the outcome could have been a lot different.

Change of system

The issues in the final third in the previous few games were evident and Farke’s response was to go back to the 5-3-2 formation. This was first seen when Leeds first adopted wing-backs at Manchester City almost a year ago.

As a result, Lukas Nmecha started his first Premier League game of the season to help offer Dominic Calvert-Lewin some direct support. Meanwhile, Sean Longstaff was given the nod to begin in the competition for the first time in almost a year.

The pair weren’t in natural striker and midfield roles, though. Nmecha was a loose left-sided hybrid winger while Longstaff was a central player that morphed into an attacking 10. It didn't provide much fruit in the first half.

Leeds were better after half time, Nmecha getting a chance to shoot but dallying too long while Longstaff brought the ball down but spun his shot over the top a short while later. But it was only when the substitutes came on did the breakthrough come...

Subs make impact

Okafor scored 97 seconds and three touches into his appearance. For a player who has not had much game time of late due to injury that was a nice moment for him - and the whole team. It was a reminder that he does have that spark that can change games when available.

But perhaps more importantly, Wilson was the one who helped make it happen. While he does not officially take the assist - Rodrigo Bentancur got the final touch before Okafor latched onto it - he is to thank for forcing the set up. It is his first, albeit unofficial, Premier League goal contribution for Leeds.

After a frustrating start to life at Leeds, the past two matches feel like the attacker has really turned a corner and finally found his feet at United. Even in his limited minutes yesterday, he was lively and proactive, expressing his fluidity again. Long may it continue.

A mention too for Melvin Bard. He had not played at all since the last win; a 4-1 trimuph over Newcastle United almost two months ago. When he came on for the injured Gabriel Gudmundsson (hamstring), he was looked like he had played every minute.

His passes forward were accurate, his tackling super and his positioning in tune. That performance seemed like a watershed game for the Frenchman.