Daniel Farke: The Leeds manager is sticking to his guns despite a divided fan base and poor results

However, the display against Villa showed that Leeds are far from a lost cause and are clearly more competitive in the Premier League than other promoted sides in recent seasons.

They were positive against the visitors in the first half, and at intervals in the second half. The team was twice denied another goal after excellent saves from Emi Martinez, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s attempt was disallowed due to handball.

Villa’s equalizer came after a wonderfully fluid movement, while the winner’s defensive errors were individual rather than systemic errors.

Joe Hart, Match of the Day expert and former Manchester City goalkeeper, said: “Leeds played well and showed great energy, especially in the first half, but they needed the second goal and were facing the tactical genius in Unai Emery.”

“It was a fantastic Premier League game, decided by a brilliant free-kick from Morgan Rogers. Leeds could have easily got a result, but they were undone by a bit of magic.”

Former England midfielder Danny Murphy believes it is clear that Leeds players still support Farke – even if fans are divided.

He told BBC Sport: “Farke is under pressure because of the bad results that Leeds achieved, but there was a group of players, a team, playing under their coach, who were unlucky to lose the game. They did not deserve to lose.”

“There was a great tactical plan in the first half to condense the space and prevent Villa from playing across the lines to get the ball to John McGinn and Emi Buendia from those wide areas, and they won the ball back again and again.

“Villa’s equalizer early in the second half took the wind out of their sails, but I thought Leeds recovered really well and, even when they were 2-1 down, they threw the kitchen sink at Villa. If it wasn’t for Martinez, they would have got something out of the game.

“This performance did not warrant that reaction from Leeds fans, perhaps it was the build-up of weeks of poor performance. But if they had come to see the reaction, to see if the team was ready to fight and give everything for the manager and the fans, they would have done so.

“If they play like this every week, I think they will be OK.”

Over the past 10 seasons, 37 clubs have parted ways with their coach while sitting in the bottom three. Only 13 people remained awake, a success rate of 35%.

So, Farke aims to get Leeds playing this way every week, with players of his own choosing, and no one else’s.