That sinking feeling is starting to become all too familiar for Leeds United. The Whites travelled to Bournemouth on Sunday knowing only a win would do if they were to breathe life into their hopes of survival.
What Javi Gracia’s men served up on the south coast, though, was a performance that was enough to leave everyone associated with the club fearing the worst. Leeds were limp and characterless as they consistently found themselves without the answers to the questions Bournemouth threw their way.
Patrick Bamford’s goal was a rare positive moment at Dean Court, but his well-placed header wasn’t enough to disperse the threat of relegation, which is only intensifying with every game that falls by the wayside. The manner of the defeat absolutely stunk, once again, but with just four games remaining, it’s impossible not to look at what’s to come and where Leeds could find themselves next season.
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To their credit Leeds aren’t actually in the relegation zone right now. At the time of writing they sit 16th, one point above the drop zone and above the likes of Nottingham Forest, Everton and Leicester City.
However, at this very point in time it’s hard to see where Leeds’ next point is coming from. The trip to Manchester City next Saturday looks to be the last thing this frail outfit needs right now, while games against Newcastle United, West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur make up a month that was always seen to be extremely gruelling.
From the moment the fixtures were released in June, the feeling was that Leeds would have to make the most of the matches leading into the final month of the season if they were even remotely in trouble. That notion hasn’t changed over the course of the campaign and at this stage of the season, it seems Leeds now need to upset the odds if they’re to avoid playing Championship football next term.
Javi Gracia knew the size of the task he was facing at Elland Road when he took the job. The Spaniard had watched from afar as Leeds slipped into the relegation zone without any clear guidance or direction.
He made an immediate impact, too, collecting three wins from his first six games to give his side hope and belief. But, the head coach simply hasn’t been able to explain what has happened to the Whites since that half-time interval against Crystal Palace, though, and despite trying his best to shake things up, he now cuts the shape of a man who is running out of answers.
The Spaniard appeared broken as he sat down in front of the press at Dean Court and with five days to prepare for Man City next Saturday, pulling his side out of their tailspin may just be the biggest challenge of his managerial career to date.
Leeds are running out of time to save their season and after Sunday’s showing at Bournemouth, something needs to change.
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