Credit: Imago

Daniel Lewis

Thu 23 April 2026 8:10, UK

Kalvin Phillips revelled in Sean Longstaff’s late heroics as Leeds United snatched a 2-2 draw at Bournemouth on Wednesday night.

Longstaff scored a contentious goal 97 minutes into the contest at Vitality Stadium to move Leeds another step closer to Premier League safety.

The midfielder has struggled for minutes under Daniel Farke but made the most of his latest opportunity after being thrown on as a late substitute.

Leeds’ draw extends their unbeaten league run to five matches and moves them nine points clear of 18th-placed Tottenham, who have a game in hand to play.

And numerous Leeds players took to social media after the dramatic Bournemouth draw, including Longstaff.

Sean Longstaff sums up Leeds’ fighting spirit

There is no doubt that the FA Cup semi-final with Chelsea on Sunday takes priority for Leeds fans this week.

Still, the midweek trip to the South Coast – badly timed from a scheduling perspective – was not one Leeds could afford to write off.

Twice the Whites battled back, earning what was a superb point all things considered against an in-form Bournemouth side.

Premier League safety is surely now in the bag as a result of Longstaff’s late goal, coming after James Hill’s earlier own goal, meaning United head to Wembley in even higher spirits.

Longstaff summed it all up nicely on his personal Instagram account after the game as he wrote: “Fighting until the very end. See you all at Wembley on Sunday. MOT.”

Pascal Struijk was among those to reply, posting: “Love it you.”

Anton Stach, still nursing an injury issue, posted a couple of flame emojis, while Harry Gray posted two heart-eye emojis.

And there was also a reply from former Leeds favourite Kalvin Phillips, now plying his trade on loan at Sheffield United, as he wrote: “Love it lad.”

It goes to show just how popular Longstaff is, with his fighting spirit something that nicely sums up Leeds right now.

Longstaff may just be Daniel Farke’s Wembley secret weapon

Longstaff being regularly overlooked by Farke has raised eyebrows, with suggestions there has been more to the repeated snubs than meets the eye.

Ultimately, all the former Newcastle United ace can do is take his chances when they arrive, even if he only has a few minutes here and there to do so.

Longstaff made a fast start to life at Elland Road but then became a forgotten figure, but this crucial say on the game against Bournemouth shows he can still have an impact.

And all of a sudden, Farke may have a selection call to make with regards to whether Longstaff now starts against Chelsea at Wembley.

The obvious answer is to go with the tried and trusted, of course, which may or may not involve Stach, but Longstaff is certainly a wildcard option that could catch Chelsea by surprise.

If nothing else, Farke now knows he has a player raring to go if called upon in the capital on what is a massive occasion for Leeds.