Tottenham v Leeds: Noah Okafor’s goals play a key role in keeping Daniel Farke’s side out of relegation danger. football news

No Swiss player has scored more goals in a single Premier League campaign than Leeds forward Noah Okafor. In fact, in 200+ minutes played since the start of February, Okafor has the best goals-to-minutes ratio of any player in the division.

His “fantastic effect” received high praise from manager Daniel Farke. His goalscoring contribution probably secured Leeds a place in the Premier League the following season. But instead of celebrating his recent excitement as an achievement in itself, the 25-year-old prefers to talk about the bigger picture.

“The main thing for me is to get points for the team,” he said Sky SportsFacing Tottenham ahead Monday Night Football. “The team has a great energy, a positive energy, a good atmosphere. We found each other, performing very well because we worked hard for this moment.”

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This fixture could hold a very different meaning for Leeds at this particular juncture. The result could have been fruitful in the battle to avoid relegation. But Farke was not ready to turn the dice on opportunity.

Since the start of December, only six teams have picked up more Premier League points than Leeds. Only three teams have lost fewer than four of their matches. While Spurs have slipped disastrously towards the drop, Leeds have picked themselves up in the opposite direction. Time to turn off the gas, then?

“We can breathe, but nothing is safe yet because we have three games left,” Okafor continued. “In the last weeks we have shown a good mood, a lot of points and that gives us confidence. There is no excuse to stop, we still have to work hard and improve in every aspect of the game.”

Leeds’ campaign has been underpinned by a no-excuses culture. They are one of only two sides currently in the bottom seven who are stuck across a rocky patch with their manager. Spurs are in their third place. Nottingham Forest actually made their way through a record four.

But in Yorkshire consistency has been friend not foe. Leeds bucked the trend by doubling down on Ferk and the players – Okafor being a prime example – responded with big performances. “The coach is strict, he knows what he wants to do, he tries to give it to us,” said the forward.

“Ultimately we fight for everything because we know this squad has a lot of quality, and it makes life easier when everyone gives 100 percent. You can enjoy it more like this. Everyone is in the boat, on the journey with this team.”

This side mixes combat with flair particularly well. It still has shades of the excitement that Marcelo Bielsa will bring to the Premier League in 2020/21. As much as Okafor covers. His brace was backed up by a goal in a 2-1 win over Manchester United and an assist in the win over Wolves in April, before helping himself to a strike in last week’s crucial 3-1 win over Burnley.

Farke’s side have scored three or more in eight different outings this term, the most of any newly promoted side since Leeds under Bielsa. German direction may have a pragmatic edge, but fluidity and creativity also exist. The xG table puts them above Everton and Aston Villa and well ahead of Monday’s hosts Spurs.

Okafor surpassed his personal xG standard at 2.74 goals.

The Swiss international, who hopes to feature at this summer’s World Cup, is finally spoke Sky Sports back In December, at a time when points are hard to come by. “We have to be brave in our minds,” he stressed.

Asked if that was still true, he didn’t hesitate. “That’s a good sentence. We have to be brave in our minds throughout the season. Sure football is always under a bit of pressure, we’ve shown how to deal with it.” Leeds remained brave. They supported Farke at a time when others would be pushing for change and reaped the rewards of such loyalty – a concept that is underrated by most modern football chiefs.

Leeds’ six-game unbeaten run to take them to 43 points is proof that consistency can work. The aim should now be to emulate what the previous four clubs did to stay in the Premier League after promotion – Brentford, Fulham, Bournemouth and Forest.

Their fate is impressively in their own steady hands.

Watch Tottenham vs Leeds live Sky Sports Main Event Monday Night Football; Kick-off is at 8pm