Leeds claimed a precious victory that takes them six points clear of Tottenham whose plight darkens further after Daniel Farke’s men pulled off a first league win at Old Trafford since February 1981 and in the process inflicted a first home defeat for Michael Carrick as Manchester United interim manager.
His team lacked control throughout, a state not aided by Lisandro Martínez’s silly 56th-minute red card for yanking Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s ponytail, and he is now suspended for three matches.
By then two first-half Noah Okafor strikes had Leeds cruising and while the hosts rallied, Casemiro’s header was a consolation only.
Yet if Carrick’s men remain likely to seal Champions League qualification, Leeds motored home cockahoop and if they beat Wolves on Saturday before Spurs play Brighton they may feel out of the relegation dogfight.
At kick-off and three points above 18th-placed Tottenham, Leeds surely began contemplating the draw they achieved in January’s reverse fixture acceptable. Leeds’ previous league win was on 6 February and as they had drawn seven of their last eight away games (losing the other) three points appeared unlikely.
