Leeds United boss Daniel Farke on a 'nearly perfect away performance' and praise from Plymouth Argyle rival

LEEDS UNITED manager Daniel Farke praised his side for delivering ‘nearly the perfect away performance’ their 4-1 extra-time win at Championship rivals Plymouth Argyle.

United – who visit Home Park in the league a week on Saturday – delivered a dominant display in Devon, with the only surprise being that they failed to secure deserved progression into round five in normal time.

Extra-time goals by substitutes Georginio Rutter and Crysencio Summerville and a Ryan Hardie own goal settled the FA Cup fourth-round replay and sealed Leeds' passage into the last 16 - and a trip to Aston Villa or Chelsea.

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Brendan Galloway's 78th-minute goal for Argyle had cancelled out Wilfried Gnonto's 66th-minute opener to force extra time with Leeds in the ascendancy for virtually all of the second period.

Leeds United manager Daniel Farke gives a thumbs-up to the fans at the end of the Emirates FA Cup fourth round replay match at Home Park, Plymouth. Picture: Adam Davy/PA Wire.Leeds United manager Daniel Farke gives a thumbs-up to the fans at the end of the Emirates FA Cup fourth round replay match at Home Park, Plymouth. Picture: Adam Davy/PA Wire.
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke gives a thumbs-up to the fans at the end of the Emirates FA Cup fourth round replay match at Home Park, Plymouth. Picture: Adam Davy/PA Wire.

Farke, whose side welcome Yorkshire rivals Rotherham United in the league this weekend, said: "It was nearly the perfect away performance. We were so dominant, we created so many chances, scored the goals but we also hit the crossbar twice and the post.

"The scoreline flattered us, yes but not that we had to play 120 minutes and it was also a replay.

"I want to say firstly congratulations to Plymouth, a brave side, a confident side, they never know when they are beaten.

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"They found a way in both games to get a foot in the door although we were so dominant.

"We dominated the second half, I just saw the statistics that we had 82 per cent of the possession. But Plymouth had the free-kick and they managed to score so they were pretty effective.

"Plymouth scored out of nothing but we showed great heart to win this. We invested so much energy and mentality into the game and showed a real will to win.

"We took risks and pressed them high and also defended with discipline. I am happy with the performance as we gave everything.

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"I don't look too far ahead but we can think about the next round when it comes around. It will be an exciting game."

Argyle boss Ian Foster said: "I said to them after the game how proud I am of them.

"We spoke about coming away with no regrets and I am proud of the way we approached the game and how difficult we made it for Leeds over two games.

"The scoreline is quite sobering for us in terms of their ruthlessness at the end. We won't be downtrodden about the result because we know how well we played over two games.

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"Look at the quality that Leeds had on the pitch late on, it makes it challenging for you. We will learn from playing against top-quality opposition.

"Leeds are a smashing outfit and they deserved to go through on the balance of the game and we wish them well.

"We have been caught a couple of times and that is fine. We will stick together and keep learning and improving. We are a young and inexperienced team at this level.

"It's quite difficult because it was a sobering scoreline but we will take the positives from it, dust ourselves down and move on."