Daniel Farke explodes on touchline after Portsmouth v Leeds incident
Daniel Farke had all the right to be fuming after Leeds United succumbed to a 1-0 defeat against Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Sunday.
Leeds players have to hang their heads in shame after they suffered their first Championship defeat since November on 9 March, courtesy of a Colby Bishop goal, and let their lead at the top of the table slip.
The defeat, as well as the draw against West Brom at Elland Road last weekend, has allowed Sheffield United to go level with Daniel Farke’s side, although they remain first on goal difference.
With Burnley just two points behind, the West Yorkshire outfit face a nervy end to the Championship season as they look to earn automatic promotion to the Premier League.
Farke furious at Illan Meslier incident in loss v Portsmouth
Farke will not be pleased with the performance his players produced and certainly will have had a word with them in the dressing room after the game, but he will also feel Leeds could have gotten something out of the game if certain refereeing decisions went their way.
Graham Smyth of the Yorkshire Evening Post noticed the German tactician “going mad” on the touchline after Connor Ogilvie tackled Illan Meslier deep in the Whites box towards the end of the first half.
| Teams | Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goal Difference | Points |
| 1. Leeds | 36 | 22 | 10 | 4 | 49 | 76 |
| 2. Sheffield United | 36 | 24 | 6 | 6 | 24 | 76 |
| 3. Burnley | 36 | 20 | 14 | 2 | 39 | 74 |
Farke thought his goalkeeper was the subject of a reckless challenge from the Portsmouth player, although Smyth suggested that Meslier might have “made a meal” out of it.
“Ogilvie slides in on Meslier, who goes down. Not a yellow”, Smyth wrote on X (9 March).
“Farke going mad on the touchline. Meslier is up already. Free-kick only.
“Unsure how much contact there was, to be honest or if the keeper made a meal of it.”
42 – Ogilvie slides in on Meslier, who goes down. Not a yellow. Farke going mad on the touchline. Meslier is up already. Free-kick only. Unsure how much contact there was to be honest or if the keeper made a meal of it.
— Graham Smyth (@GrahamSmyth) March 9, 2025
0-0#lufc
Leeds have no one to blame
Leeds will also be disappointed about not getting a penalty after Matt Ritchie’s foul on Dan James in the first half.
However, the Elland Road outfit have no one to blame but themselves after producing a lacklustre performance at Fratton Park.
The overall display was so poor that it makes one wonder if the players took 17th-placed Pompey too lightly because of their place on the Championship table.
They should have known that John Mousinho’s side have a formidable record at home, having lost only one of their 11 league games prior to Leeds’ visit on Sunday.