Karl Darlow is used to seeing late winners against Fulham. The Leeds United goalkeeper had an agonisingly close-up view of Gabriel Gudmundsson’s 94th-minute clincher in London, stretching for it, but failing to keep it out.
On Saturday, his view was far inferior, but far more joyous. He should have been able to make out manager Daniel Farke on one knee, punching the air, and the white blur of ecstasy massing in Elland Road’s north-west corner.
After the pain of Fulham, Bournemouth, Manchester City and Newcastle United, Leeds were delighted to be on the right side of the added-time drama. It’s not the only time (see Liverpool at home), but Craven Cottage and the more recent agony at St James’ Park drove this one home with meaning.
It was a day of watching from afar for Darlow. No opponent has generated as small an expected goal (xG) tally against Leeds this season as Marco Silva’s side (0.4). No opponent has registered as few shots on target against Leeds as Fulham (one) this term, other than Everton on the opening weekend (also one).
In hindsight, it was the type of match Lucas Perri would have craved. A low-maintenance, comfortable clean sheet to build some confidence after a challenging few weeks. You wonder when he will next get the chance to keep a clean sheet in the Premier League.
This was a defining moment in the season for the club’s goalkeeping department. With no cup football or match load to hide behind, this was a firm, categorical choice by Farke to make Darlow his first choice and Perri his back-up.
Lucas Perri could not prevent this winner for Harvey Barnes at Newcastle (Stu Forster/Getty Images)
“It’s always a tricky situation,” Farke said in his post-match press conference. “I have so much respect for Lucas. It was a difficult season for him because he came in relatively late in pre-season, played in a few games, and then he was injured.
“Right now, we are also deep in the Premier League season. We have had more than 20 games and, on this level, especially as a promoted side, you need a goalkeeper with top performances, otherwise you can’t stay in the league.
“We simply got the feeling, in the last weeks, he has perhaps not delivered, performance-wise, what we were expecting. There’s always pressure and we have, with Karl, a very reliable, solid goalkeeper, who was fantastic for us last season and when Lucas was out this season.
“We also got the feeling we need to take Lucas a bit out of the spotlight because he could feel, (as) he’s a really thoughtful guy and intelligent, the pressure like a weight on his shoulders.”
It’s the type of bold call Farke is paid to make and get right. It was not entirely unexpected, but the manager had seemingly set the bar so high for such a switch in his treatment of Illan Meslier last season.
Meslier was one of many Leeds players who saw their stock slide as the club tumbled down the Premier League before its eventual relegation in 2023. Things were not much better in the Championship, but last season, with promotion on the line, patience on the terraces had long run out.
There was the autumn error at Sunderland, his hand in all three of Hull City’s goals in a 3-3 draw and then, the piece de resistance, his gift of two goals to Swansea City in last March’s 2-2 draw. He did not survive that but Farke had tolerated so many mistakes, it felt Perri might have more leeway in 2025-26.
It was hard to ignore his part in the Manchester United and Newcastle goals, which robbed Leeds of points, but there were frustrations earlier in the season, too. Darlow is not perfect, but he is Farke’s man now and this has to work over the weeks ahead.
Flip-flopping back to Perri too soon would do neither any good, or help the defence’s relationship with the man behind them. This was a solid return to league action for the 35-year-old.
Daniel Farke has settled his goalkeeper conundrum (Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
Fulham did not ask any meaningful questions of him, so the focus landed on his distribution. Aside from Perri’s errors, his passing had proved a frustration for spectators. In the ninth minute, there was a regulation pass Darlow put straight into touch in the Fulham half, which had him looking to the sky, but that was a rarity.
There were more than enough passes, which did give Dominic Calvert-Lewin a chance to win possession, to stop it becoming a talking point. There were a few nervy moments, which Darlow dealt with assuredly.
In the sixth minute, he had the composure to chest the ball down, with Raul Jimenez bearing down on him, before flicking it over the Mexican’s head. Four minutes later, the ball was bouncing outside the Leeds area, with Darlow and Joe Rodon running at it. They hesitated for a moment, but the goalkeeper eventually took command to clear.
In the 23rd minute, the best chance of the half came from a Darlow pass. His long ball forward allowed Calvert-Lewin to knock the ball down for Jayden Bogle to then put Brenden Aaronson through for that misjudged lob.
Darlow even had the confidence to sell Harry Wilson, the day’s pantomime villain, a dummy inside his own box, much to the crowd’s satisfaction. Darlow is experienced, steady and solid. It does not feel like Farke is taking a risk with this call.
The more glaring concern, perhaps for the summer, is Perri. After committing to a package worth more than £15million and a four-year contract for the Brazilian last summer, relegating him to second choice in the long term will have consequences.
Perhaps, as Farke hopes, time away from the spotlight will help. It’s also harsh to write Perri off so early into his first season in English football. Much in the same way the team has come good since its late November decline, perhaps Perri will adapt over the months ahead.