Credit: Imago

MOT Leeds News speaking to Ian Darke

Wed 12 March 2025 7:10, UK

Leeds United are certainly far from used to tasting defeat this season, but they were left reeling for the long trip home from Portsmouth on Sunday.

The loss without reply at Fratton Park (9 March) was not for the want of trying, but more so the occasional suspect moment, combined with Pompey’s raised performance, some poor showings in front of goal and a controversial penalty denial between Dan James and Matt Ritchie.

It was only Leeds’ fourth league reverse of the campaign and first in 18 in the Championship, but luckily for Daniel Farke there is no time to dwell, with Millwall visiting Elland Road this Wednesday (12 March).

It becomes even more crucial now given the fact that as of before Tuesday night’s games, both Burnley and Sheffield United have the chance to shunt Leeds down into the play-off places, inciting the nightmares of the end of last season.

Leeds United have ‘no chance’ of spiralling out of form says Darke

TV commentator and football analysis expert Ian Darke has been quick to weigh in on the concerns of Leeds supporters, especially given his own allegiance to Portsmouth.

Speaking exclusively to MOT Leeds News, Darke insisted the defeat at Fratton Park will not be the precursor to a wretched run of form, which cost the Whites late on on 2023-24 when they failed to earn promotion despite scooping 90 points.

Farke’s Leeds are currently on 76, with 30 more up for grabs starting on Wednesday. After facing Millwall comes another trip south – although not quite as far as Portsmouth – when they take on QPR at Loftus Road (15 March) in their final fixture before the international separation.

“There’s absolutely no chance at all they take their foot off the gas, you’ve only got to watch them on a weekly basis,” Darke assured.

“They can see the finishing line, defeats happen, and they should still have the momentum moving forward. There was all the talk of whether they needed another striker in January but Piroe is certainly doing alright, James is still flying, and they’ve just got that collective momentum.

“They got many of the results they needed, like in the Sheffield United and Sunderland games. I still don’t think there’s any stopping them for promotion before the end of the season.”

Millwall have already won at Elland Road this season

Leeds will know the banana skin of Millwall all too well heading into Wednesday’s fixture under the lights, and the Lions will be extremely keen to spoil any parade.

Alex Neil’s men won at Elland Road last month and are the only team to have done so in 2025, albeit against a rotated side named by Farke in the FA Cup.

Millwall were also winners on the road at the weekend, coming from behind to beat Watford 2-1, and on their day they can present anyone a threat with their awkward style to oppose.

Leeds will feel the pressure now – something Millwall will want to capitalise on – but a ruthless attacking display would soon put the Pompey result out of their minds.

Farke will be likely to maintain faith in the more-or-less settled line-up which gathered the run of form they approached Portsmouth with, and Wednesday is their opportunity to silence a few doubters.