Luton Town 1-1 Leeds United: Daniel Farke’s side lose vital ground in Championship promotion battle as Dan James spares their blushes

It took just 15 minutes in Bedfordshire for the Luton supporters to begin their first rendition of ‘Leeds are falling apart again’ and as the Leeds players trudged off the pitch at full time, having dropped two more points in the promotion race, they were met with the chant again.

Leeds are indeed falling apart and at the worst possible time. Since beating Sheffield United in February, Daniel Farke’s side have won just one of their last six and are out of the automatic promotion spots with six games to play.

Reaching the Premier League looked all but a certainty that night at Bramall Lane as they went seven points clear of third but Leeds are now flirting dangerously with the play-offs.

60 miles from Luton, Burnley’s comeback victory at Coventry meant that Scott Parker’s side now have a two-point advantage on them.

With Leeds’s woeful record in the play-offs, having never gone up on six separate attempts, these are turning into desperate times, even if Farke insisted that it was a positive result.

‘It’s definitely a point gained. Never underestimate the importance of a draw on the road,’ the Leeds boss said. ‘It’s a tight race and I still feel that we have a great chance. I’d prefer to go up in early May rather than late but I’m still convinced this will be a Premier League club.’

Relegation-threatened Luton Town took a shock lead to stun promotion-chasing Leeds

It’s not out of their hands yet, with Burnley and Sheffield United going head-to-head on Easter Monday and Leeds arguably having the more favourable of run-ins but right now, they are struggling to win football matches, regardless of the opposition.

Going into this clash, 21 places separated the two sides but for most of the contest, it was hard to figure which team was in the race for the Premier League and which team was bidding for Championship survival.

Matt Bloomfield’s Luton were brilliant and have lost just once in their last six. This was the kind of display that left you thinking how they are in a relegation battle.

‘It was a performance to be proud of,’ said Bloomfield. ‘Their staff told us after the game that there was an incredible shift in our performance between the two games they played us in.’

Farke made four changes from the draw to Swansea with Karl Darlow notably replacing Illan Meslier in goal but the Welsh keeper could do nothing to stop Luton taking an early lead.

Elijah Adebayo did well down the left flank and played in Jordan Clark, who found Isaiah Jones and the wing-back volleyed in with aplomb from close range.

Leeds levelled 13 minutes later through a moment of brilliance from Dan James, who curled in a wonderful left-footed strike past Thomas Kaminski from outside the box.

Thelo Asgaard came close to restoring Luton’s advantage after the break but Darlow made a good stop as Luton sensed that Leeds were there for the taking.

Luton Town frustrated Leeds for the most part but will be disappointed with James’ goal

Leeds are at risk of having to settle for a play-off spot after failing to beat Luton

Leeds have now handed advantage to Burnley, who beat Coventry City, and Sheffield United

Farke threw on Patrick Bamford in place of Gnonto for his first appearance since January as Leeds upped the urgency towards the latter stages and Bamford was denied by Kaminski before James did superbly to tee up Manor Solomon, who inexplicably blazed over from a few yards out.

Solomon sat on the floor in disbelief. He couldn’t believe it and neither could the thousand or so Leeds fans behind the goal.

‘I’m not fearful or nervous at all,’ a defiant Farke stressed after. But the fanbase might be feeling a little differently now.

Their side fell apart at the end of last season and unless they can return to winning ways, history looks like it might be repeating itself again.