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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Sport
Jonathan Wilson

Are some clubs cursed? The narrative can be as powerful as the truth

The Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier, the former manager Don Revie with the League Championship Trophy, and the current Leeds manager, Daniel Farke
The Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier, the former manager Don Revie with the League Championship Trophy, and the current Leeds manager, Daniel Farke Composite: Guardian Picture Desk; PA Images; PA Images/Alamy; Action Images

A month ago, Leeds were merrily on top of the Championship. They had just beaten Sunderland with two late goals and Sheffield United with three. They had gone 16 games unbeaten and were playing with authority and conviction. More than that, they seemed to have the deepest squad in the Championship. The Sunderland game had turned when they brought on Willy Gnonto and Largie Ramazani; nobody else in the division could bring that sort of quality off the bench.

Since then they have won one of five games and slipped to second. It’s happening again.

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