Join the Miguel Delaney: Inside Football newsletter and get behind-the-scenes access and unrivalled insightJoin the Miguel Delaney: Inside Football newsletterJoin the Miguel Delaney: Inside Football newsletterA terrible night for a relegation-threatened team who play in white. Although that team, admittedly, is Tottenham Hotspur. For Leeds United, this was a seminal, spectacular evening; a historic one, too, though even the significance of a first league win at Old Trafford since 1981 felt less immediate than the growing probability they will stay up. But for Michael Carrick and Manchester United, even a rousing attempt at a rescue act could not alter the combination of a wretched first half and a dreadful result. It was compounded by the consequences, with Lisandro Martinez’s comeback short-lived as he was sent off for grabbing Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair. Just when it seemed they were certainties to qualify for the Champions League, Manchester United contrived to inject an element of doubt. Carrick lost his 100 per cent record at Old Trafford as United manager. The danger is the favourite to become the permanent manager loses rather more than that.Carrick was an unused substitute for Leeds’ previous win at Old Trafford in 2010. This, however, was a first league victory on enemy turf in 45 years and Noah Okafor can now join Brian Flynn in Leeds folklore. The summer signing’s volleyed double was his first brace for Leeds. The goals came in a pair for this particular Noah, perhaps changing the arc of each United’s fortunes.Noah Okafor’s brace proved the difference in Leeds’ first league win at Old Trafford since 1981 (AP)For Daniel Farke, though, a survival mission is almost complete, especially with home games against Wolves and Burnley to come. This, indisputably, was Leeds’ finest day since returning to the Premier League, perhaps their best in the division since the 2022 triumph at Anfield. “Very proud,” said Farke. “We were outstanding in the circumstances. There is no doubt we deserved the win.”But as Leeds know from bitter experience, however, they rarely do things the easy way. Carrick’s United threatened an act of escapology. They mounted an assault in the second half. James Justin headed off the line to deny Benjamin Sesko, whose shot had looped up off Karl Darlow after the striker made a buccaneering run. The goalkeeper made a terrific save from Matheus Cunha.Manchester United halved the deficit with Casemiro’s…
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2026-04-14 00:20:14
