Leeds United new points target set after Burnley win clears historic Premier League bar
Daniel Farke won't let his Leeds United players think of their summer holidays just yet.
Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has challenged his side to try and surpass the 50-point mark after victory over Burnley made them all-but safe from relegation.
No side has ever been relegated from the Premier League with 43 points, the tally Leeds moved on to with their 3-1 victory over the Clarets at Elland Road. And only one team in history - Sheffield Wednesday in 1990 - have gone down in a 38-game top flight season with that total.
The first goal was always going to be crucial and Leeds wasted no time in breaking through. Jaka Bijol's pass allowed Anton Stach to take a touch and set his sights from distance before finding the bottom corner with a fierce strike. Leeds were ahead on eight minutes and though they had to wait until the second half to go further ahead they were in full control. Noah Okafor's sweet volley capped a fine move for the second, seven minutes after the interval and Dominic Calvert-Lewin added a third four minutes after that.
Burnley made things slightly more interesting with a goal 19 minutes from time and a more spirited spell, but Leeds were able to celebrate a win that puts them nine points ahead of 18th-placed Spurs, albeit having played a game more. Leeds occupy 14th place before the weekend's games take place.
"Massive win for us and of course the first goal in such a pressure game, against an already-relegated side, it's always tricky," said Farke. "They're good footballers, a compact side. Always important to find a good balance, to not run into counters and to try and open them. You just have to ask Man City last game day, it's not easy to score goals against them. It was a fantastic goal from Anton to score the first. It was crucial not to allow any chances for them and hold the intensity in our pressing high. It was important to stay with the foot on the gas, a fantastic team goal and another hard-fought goal. You still get a bit nervous when they score, already having taken important players off with a few little injuries. It was important to bring it over the line and be on 43 points."
The German paid tribute to his squad for showing nerves of steel at the business end of the season as the relegation battle heated up. Leeds have won three of their last four and haven't lost since March 3.
"I'm just proud of my players and have to give them many compliments," he said. "In such a pressure period to win 10 points from the last four, six unbeaten, feels amazing. We have missed Joe Rodon, Anton Stach, Jaka Bijol. Noah Okafor has had problems. The work ethic and spirit in the dressing room is second to none.
"I'm pretty picky who I bring in. We need outstanding fitness level, a good gameplan, good tactical behaviour, top mentality, we always have to go physically over the line and need strong nerves. This is a sign if you deliver some of your best performances and results in the crunch time. I'm just proud of this. It was so crucial that mentality was on the same level as ability [with recruitment]."
Farke is not yet ready to declare Leeds safe but his focus is on continuing their run of form and getting as many points as possible from the final three outings against Spurs, Brighton and West Ham.
"We will just celebrate when it's mathematically done," he said. "It's not a question I ask myself, I don't want to stop on 43. We're in such good shape, delivering so many good performances. I said before the game 12 points to fight for, we have the first three under our belt and want to win the following nine."