Leeds United 1 Tottenham 0: Personality counts as Daniel Farke has everything that Roberto de Zerbi doesn't possess

Organisation, obduracy. Watching each other’s backs and sticking together.

Strong minds, intensity and feeding off the five-star fuel which is in abundant supply when Leeds attack the Gelderd End, particularly in the second half of matches.

More especially when those present sense that one of the so called ‘name’ clubs don’t particularly fancy it on a November day in Yorkshire.

It was a win for the home dressing room and the culture that Farke has carefully constructed. He knew it - unity and commitment were the first two words he used to describe his side’s first victory in six games - and his Spurs counterpart Roberto De Zerbi also knew it too.

These are the sort of wins that proper managers love. Ones that are hewn from a bit of adversity. Conversely, they constitute defeats that tell a lot to the vanquished.

De Zerbi said that his side lacked ‘personality’ in the second half and he was spot-on. Personality counts in tight matches.

And while Noah Okafor may have only been on the pitch for just over a minute and a half before his match-winning strike 11 minutes from the end of normal time, nobody could say that the hosts’ breakthrough wasn’t coming or deserved.

Yes, Spurs were entitled to feel hard done by what happened - or didn’t - in the 37th minute with Mathys Tel. Ultimately that wasn’t the point.

A lengthy VAR check scrutinised Jayden Bogle’s challenge on the Spurs man close to the near touchline. The Leeds defender’s left-boot raked the back of Tel’s Achilles, leaving the Frenchman writhing in agony for a short while. Briefly, he did manage to continue before succumbing. Tel left Elland Road in a protective boot and on crutches.

In a post on X, the Premier League Match Centre later confirmed Bogle’s action was viewed as accidental and at low speed. It spared him from a red card, despite seemingly setting a precedent, as similar recent challenges from Jean-Phillipe Mateta and Ryan Sessegnon were deemed sending-off offences.

Spurs submitted a subsequent complaint to Pro Ref following the latest incident. But it was not the reason why they lost. Saturday served as a reminder that when things don’t go in the direction that you like, you show character and crack on.

In the second half, a group of players - several brought in at considerable expense in the summer - lacked cojones, as the Spanish say.

De Zerbi might be Italian, but he wouldn’t need to be told what it meant. He is still finding out about his group as a collective. Farke knows everything about his own and implicitly trusts them.

His Leeds side weren’t bad in the first half, but they weren’t particularly good either. Spurs possessed more of the poise on show. Mateus Fernandes - rightly cleared of a handball offence by an early VAR check - was prominent.

Seeking a fourth successive Premier League win for the first time in over 1,000 days, the visitors laid a decent platform without forging a lead in the opening half.

The second half was a different story. Leeds’ senior professionals in the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Ethan Ampadu took over.

Their eyes lit up and sensed Spurs uncertainty, while the unforgiving Leeds crowd reminded the visitors of their location south of the Watford Gap. Soft was the polite word employed.

Unlike those in white, the ones in indigo couldn't get going. Leeds, for whom Melvin Bard made an excellent impression after coming on for Gabriel Gudmundsson (hamstring) starred to become incessant in a half when they posted 13 goal attempts.

Nico Elvedi headed a rebound wide after Calvert-Lewin caused consternation. Ao Tanaka spurned a terrific chance, while Antonin Kinsky later made a splendid reaction save to tip over a hooked effort from the recalled Sean Longstaff.

De Zerbi had made a treble change to try and change the narrative. Farke played the telling cards.

Bard's throw-in on the left was flicked on by Calvert-Lewin. Replacement Harry Wilson challenged Rodrigo Bentancur and the ball dropped invitingly for Okafor, who did the rest. On the pitch for just 97 seconds, it was the quickest goal by a top-flight substitute this season.

The number for Spurs to mull over was 51 - the amount of Premier League games in which they have failed to win after going behind.

The late onslaught never came, although James Trafford made one key late save to deny Jan Paul van Hecke. After Bournemouth, that was important.

Leeds United: Trafford; Justin, Elvedi, Muharemovic; Bogle (Rodon 93), Ampadu, Longstaff (Greuv 93), Tanaka (Wilson 77), Gudmundsson (Bard HT); Nmecha (Okafor 77), Calvert-Lewin. Substitutes unused: Zetterer, James, Aaronson, Bijol.

Tottenham Hotspur: Kinsky; Porro (Gallagher 65), Van Hecke, Van der Ven, Robertson; Tonali, Fernandes (Bentacur 65), Gray; Kudus (Williams-Barnett 83), Tel (Solanke 43); Marmoush (Kulusevski 65). Substitutes unused: Gunter, Senesi, Maddison, Davies.

Referee: J Brooks (Leics).