Leeds United manager Daniel Farke praised Harrogate Town after the League Two club's spirited performance in their FA Cup tie at Elland Road this evening.

Farke defended his decision to make eight changes to his starting line-up as his team produced a laboured display in edging through to the fourth round of the competition. Squad players Josuha Guilavogui and Isaac Schmidt were among the players handed starts as the Whites dominated proceedings for long periods, enjoying 73 per cent of possession in the first half. They had 13 shots on goal, with Mateo Joseph clipping the post with a low shot.

But the Whites did not have things all their own way. Harrogate will feel aggrieved they were not awarded a penalty in the early stages after Josuha Guilavogui upended Josh March in the penalty area.

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The breakthrough finally came in the 58th minute after great work down the left by Manor Solomon. The Israel international drove to the byline and dinked an inviting cross into the box for Largie Ramazani to head home. It came moments after Solomon's ferocious shot struck the crossbar.

It was laboured, disjointed performance from Farke's team as they recorded their first win of 2025. Farke, the winner of the Championship manager of the month award for December, said: You have to respect the quality of the opponents. In the first half we missed too many chances. In the centre there was no space. Sometimes you have to tire them.

"We had 10 to 15 minutes when they tried to come back into the game. But well done for Harrogate. We are pleased we are through to the next round. It's good we brought minutes to some players."

Farke elected not to give game time to academy graduates Charlie Crew and Sam Chambers. "I don't believe too much in giving gifts away to youngsters and don't see them for the next three years," said Farke, who gave fit-again midfielder Ilia Gruev a late run-out. "It's important for Isaac and Josh to get in the starting line-up. We have competition back. We saw this game as an important situation."

Wales international Karl Darlow, given the nod in between the sticks over Illan Meslier, was barely tested and kept a clean sheet. "It's always difficult when you don't play for a while," he said. "Two or three situations he was switched on. He was really professional today."