Leeds’ Late-Goal Woes Derail European Push

Leeds United’s inability to see out matches is proving one of the defining factors of their Premier League season.

Manager Daniel Farke labelled Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Aston Villa a “valuable point”, but the late equaliser from Tammy Abraham once again exposed a costly flaw.

Abraham’s 88th-minute leveller was the 12th goal Leeds have conceded from the 86th minute onwards this season — the worst record in the Premier League in that time frame.

Nine Points Lost at the Death

While six of those late concessions did not change the outcome, the other six have directly cost Leeds points — a total of nine dropped, the highest tally in the division.

If matches ended after 85 minutes, Leeds would sit ninth and dreaming of Europe.

Instead, they are 15th — just six points clear of the relegation zone.

The most dramatic collapse came at St James’ Park:

• Leeds led 3-2 at 90 minutes

• Bruno Guimaraes converted a 91st-minute penalty

• Harvey Barnes scored in the 102nd minute

• Final score: 4-3 to Newcastle United

Barnes’ strike became the latest match-winning goal in Premier League history.

September also brought a 94th-minute own goal by Gabriel Gudmundsson in a defeat at Fulham, adding to the narrative of late collapses.

Concentration or Leadership?

Former Leeds goalkeeper Paul Robinson believes the issue is mental rather than physical.

“For me it can only be a concentration issue. I don’t think it’s fitness — two or three minutes at the end of the game is neither here nor there at this level.”

He pointed to penalties, own goals and defensive lapses as signs of late-game focus problems — possibly even a leadership gap during high-pressure moments.

Not All Doom and Gloom

Leeds have also benefited from stoppage-time drama:

• Ao Tanaka scored a 96th-minute equaliser against Liverpool

• Lukas Nmecha netted a 91st-minute winner versus Fulham

Farke’s tactical shift to a 3-5-2 system in November — following a narrow defeat to Manchester City — sparked improved form, with just two losses in 14 games afterward.

But the late-goal trend remains a shadow over what could have been a push toward the top half.

The Bigger Question: What If?

Those nine lost points would have transformed Leeds’ campaign narrative — from survival fight to European contention.

Instead, they remain in the relegation mix.

For Farke and his “warriors,” the question lingers:

Can Leeds finally close games out — or will late drama continue to define their season?