Credit: Imago

Evan Shaw

Mon 17 November 2025 20:10, UK

Daniel Farke will be having sleepless nights due to this announcement ahead of Leeds United’s return to action this weekend.

The Whites have seen their situation deteriorate in recent weeks, and they are currently hovering precariously above the drop zone in the Premier League at the 11-game mark.

Leeds are set to welcome Aston Villa to Elland Road on Sunday afternoon, as they go in search of just a second win in their last seven games in the league.

Farke would have been hopeful to see his team make a fresh start after the international break, but the alarm bells will now be ringing for him in the days leading up to the game.

Daniel Farke to be seething with Rob Jones refereeing appointment

Farke is facing ever-increasing pressure at Leeds, as their situation has worsened drastically in recent weeks.

The West Yorkshire outfit made a bright start in the early weeks of their top-flight return, but the reality of what it takes to survive in the Premier League has been laid bare to them in recent games.

Nevertheless, the visit of a resurgent Aston Villa side this weekend is a good opportunity for them to get back on track, although Farke will surely be getting flashbacks after seeing the refereeing appointment for the game.

The upcoming clash with Unai Emery’s men will be officiated by Rob Jones, after the Premier League announced the latest round of appointments on Monday.

Farke has had several incidents where he has been left frustrated by Jones over the years, perhaps most notably back in March, when the man with the whistle failed to award his team a penalty during a frustrating home draw with Portsmouth, after Daniel James was hacked down inside the box.

The German publicly questioned the referee’s decision after the game, as he said: “How this isn’t a penalty I don’t know” (via SportsView).

With the 38-year-old set to take charge of Sunday’s game, Farke will be desperately hoping that a similar scenario doesn’t play out in LS11.

• Read More: Dominic Calvert-Lewin holds the keys to beat Aston Villa, Daniel Farke must utilise him properly at Leeds United

Leeds haven’t scored in last three meetings at home vs Aston Villa

Leeds desperately need the Aston Villa clash to be a turning point in their season, but if that is to be the case, then they will need to break their embarrassing recent record against the second city outfit.

The Villans haven’t even conceded a goal in their last three trips to Elland Road, with the Whites picking up just a single point from that run, thanks to a goalless draw back in October 2022.

You have to go back to 2016 for the last time that Leeds defeated Villa on home turf, when goals from Kemar Roofe and Chris Wood secured a 2-0 victory in the Championship.

Everyone in LS11 will be desperately hoping that the run will draw to a close this weekend, and Farke will be quietly praying that a decision from Jones will fall in his favour this time around.

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