There were some solid performances on Tuesday night but none more so than Karl Darlow as the Leeds United goalkeeper stood up to the pressure applied by Middlesbrough late on.
The 34-year-old goalkeeper was handed his second Championship start of the season after Daniel Farke made the decision to bring him in and replace Illan Meslier, following the Frenchman’s Swansea errors.
A solid performance at Luton was backed-up with an even better display at Middesbrough. That is even though Darlow has struggled against Boro in his career, conceding 14 goals in his previous seven games.
Unlike Meslier, Darlow caught crosses and punched one superbly under pressure. He stood up to Boro’s best chance when Delano Burgzorg hammered an effort at his near post, the ball bouncing off his chest.
Karl Darlow finally keeps first clean sheet against Middlesbrough
A few weeks ago, Darlow will have been expecting to continue warming the bench in the run-in but now, he’s playing a crucial role in the race for automatic promotion with Leeds now back on top of the table.
In what was his eighth game against Middlesbrough throughout a career that includes Forest, Newcastle, Hull and now Leeds, Darlow finally kept his first clean sheet against Boro – and only his second win.
A massive victory that comes at the perfect time with Leeds now back in first place, after Sheffield United suffered a second straight defeat at home to Millwall. Burnley meanwhile, were held to a draw by Derby.
| Date | Playing for | Venue | Minutes | Goals conceded (Result) |
| April 16, 2013 | Nottingham Forest | Riverside | 90 | 1 (1-0 Loss) |
| September 17, 2013 | Nottingham Forest | City Ground | 90 | 2 (2-2 Draw) |
| March 11, 2014 | Nottingham Forest | Riverside | 90 | 1 (1-1 Draw) |
| December 26, 2014 | Nottingham Forest | Riverside | 90 | 3 (3-0 Loss) |
| March 7, 2015 | Nottingham Forest | City Ground | 90 | 1 (2-1 Win) |
| April 19, 2023 | Hull City | Riverside | 90 | 3 (3-1 Loss) |
| August 14, 2024 | Leeds United | Elland Road | 90 | 3 (3-0 Loss) |
| April 8, 2025 | Leeds United | Riverside | 90 | 0 (1-0 Win) |
Predicting Leeds United’s remaining five Championship games
Now on 85 points with five games to play, Farke and Leeds will be confident of exceeding last season’s total of 90 points. A tally that saw Leeds become the first side not to go up with 90 points, this century.
Five games left for Leeds. The first of which is Preston at Elland Road on Saturday, then Oxford United away from home. Stoke and Bristol City at Elland Road, before a trip to Plymouth on the final day.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | League position | Reverse fixture | Prediction |
| April 12 | Preston North End | Elland Road | 14th | 1-1 Draw | 2-0 Win |
| April 18 | Oxford United | Kassam Stadium | 18th | 3-0 Win | 3-1 Win |
| April 21 | Stoke City | Elland Road | 20th | 2-0 Win | 3-0 Win |
| April 28 | Bristol City | Elland Road | 6th | 0-0 Draw | 1-1 Draw |
| May 3 | Plymouth Argyle | Home Park | 24th | 3-0 Win | 3-1 Win |
| – | – | – | – | – | Total: 13/15 Total points: 98 |
A mid-nineties total is likely to get any of the three teams promoted to the Premier League at this stage and three wins from the next five will surely get the job done for Leeds, who are back in the driving seat.
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