Football can be a cruel sport at times. No more has that been the case than at Craven Cottage on the fourth matchday of the Premier League campaign. The Whites had defended resolutely throughout and were well on course for a deserved point at Fulham. Karl Darlow had produced a series of magnificent saves and Daniel Farke’s men even went close themselves as Sean Longstaff saw a thunderous effort cannon off the crossbar.
Then, with almost the last touch of the game, the ball ricochetted off the unfortunate Gabriel Gudmundsson and beyond Darlow, nestling in the corner as the West London outfit heartbreakingly ran out victors.
Despite the infancy of the season, that result on the banks of the Thames upped the stakes for the following weekend as Leeds travelled to Molineux to face a Wolverhampton Wanderers side yet to register a point on the board.
The hosts took the lead in the West Midlands though United responded, levelling proceedings quickly through Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Full-back Jayden Bogle had initially done brilliantly, hooking a deep delivery into the middle which the England international towered to meet, glancing past Sam Johnstone.
The turnaround was complete six minutes prior to the interval and in style. This time it was German midfielder Anton Stach who opened his account for the Whites, arrowing a sensational 30-yard free kick into the top corner and sending the travelling contingent wild. That strike would unsurprisingly later collect September’s Goal of the Month award.
Then, moments before the half-time whistle sounded, Stach turned provider as he released Noah Okafor who marauded into the box and drilled home to round off a victory the boss called a “priceless three points”.
Speaking to LUTV after the full-time whistle, Farke explained: “Winning on Premier League level for a newly promoted side doesn’t come along that often so for that, you also have to value this moment.
“I like that the players stick to their processes and believe further on in what we planned to do and played further on this confidence. Excellent first half, fully deserved to be in lead. Second half was, of course, slightly different because they tried to throw everything at us. I would have preferred a bit more possession, a bit more control, but also quite happy that we showed this side of our game.”
Calvert-Lewin’s opener was the first of 15 goals the striker would go on to net for the Whites in all competitions this campaign and, grinning from ear to ear, the forward was delighted to have got off the mark for his new club.
“Really enjoyed it,” he laughed. “A great day at the office. I think to win in the manner in which we did, to get on the scoresheet, we showed character and discipline. I think today we showed that we belong. I think to come from behind, away from home, just a big confidence boost and a show of intent, really.
“When you do put the ball in the box, I am a threat. I was happy to see that one come in the box today and just, you know, say that my job is to stay alive for when the ball does come in and be in the right position at the right time. So, to get the goal, I was happy.”
Having collected four points from August, September looked set to be even better with the Whites on course to beat high-flying Bournemouth on home soil in the dying stages of the final fixture after a Longstaff half-volley. That was until a last-gasp Junior Kroupi effort salvaged a point for the Cherries, ensuring United ended the month once more in 12th position.
“After the game, it is a well-valued and a good point,” the boss said at the time. “I wouldn’t have taken even a point before the game because I always play to win. Of course, if you concede that late and should have deservedly won this game, it doesn’t feel great in the first instance. But from Monday, we move on and, yeah, make sure that we deliver such a performance again.”
