Leeds United find themselves involved in a Premier League relegation battle for the second year running. Just like last season, the Whites have struggled for traction throughout the campaign and as things stand, goal difference is the only thing keeping them outside the bottom three.
United still have 13 games left to play this season and over the next few weeks Javi Gracia will be hard at work in an attempt to make his presence felt. If they can put a few wins together through the rest of March and April then Leeds will be able to breathe a little easier as they enter the final month of the campaign.
But, such form is hard to achieve, especially given they have won just five games all season long. As such, at this very moment in time, it seems the Whites are in a battle for survival and it could go to the wire if Gracia can’t make the necessary changes as quickly as initially hoped.
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Leeds survived by the skin of their teeth last year under Jesse Marsch, who oversaw four wins in his first 12 games in charge. Gracia already has one win under his belt, but are there any lessons to take from last season’s survival push?
Leeds Live has taken a look at the numbers and here are a few things United can take from the 2021-22 campaign.
Never stop believing
The final few months of Leeds’ second straight season in the top flight were characterised by stoppage-time goals. In fact, the Whites scored four after the 90th minute over the last 10 games of the season, securing three wins and a draw.
Joe Gelhardt’s late effort at Elland Road against Norwich City rescued three huge points in March and a week later Luke Ayling was the man to pop up late in the game at Molineux to complete a famous comeback against Wolves.
That gave Leeds some momentum and it was a habit that proved decisive in the last couple of games with Pascal Struijk scoring late to seal a point against Brighton before Jack Harrison kick-started the survival celebrations with his late effort against Brentford in west London.
Leeds have struggled to score at all lately, but that never say die attitude would certainly go a long way.
Beat the teams around you
If there’s one thing Leeds did well towards the end of last season, it was pick up points when they really needed to. The Whites lost just three of their final 10 games, with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City being the only teams to take all three points.
Leeds took full advantage of games against Norwich and Watford, who were ultimately relegated and they took points off Southampton and Crystal Palace, too. It’s an old cliché, but if they can beat those teams around them in the bottom of half of the table then they should be OK.
The Whites still have Wolves, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, Leicester City, Bournemouth and West Ham to play and they’re the games that will be deemed must-win for Gracia’s side.
Keep it tight from the start
Despite picking up the points needed to get over the line, United’s progress was stalled somewhat by the early goals they conceded. Marsch’s side developed a worrying habit of conceding inside the opening half an hour and that was enough to leave them fighting an uphill battle at times.
In fact, they shipped eight goals inside 26 minutes during their last 11 matches and more often than not, they struggled to claw their way back into the contest. Gracia has already managed to make strides defensively at Elland Road and while their attack is misfiring, the backline looks sturdy and robust.
It needs to stay that way as the business end of the season rapidly appears on the horizon.
Shoot on sight
The Whites haven’t exactly been free-flowing in attacking areas in recent weeks and there are huge concerns about whether they have the goals in them to really push away from the bottom three. They were wasteful against Southampton and Fulham in the cup, creating chances but lacking the killer instinct to take them, while they struggled to open Chelsea up at all last weekend.
Goals weren’t something the Whites were short of last season as they got forward in numbers and took chances both in and out of the penalty area. They were hardly confident in front of goal last season, but they always had a goal in them and the current crop needs to rediscover that ability.
Capitalise on the fans
Despite taking the opportunity to voice their frustrations to the board at times last season, the fans never turned on the team and the players were able to feed off that support. This season has been the same and the players will continue to have unconditional backing from the crowd throughout the next few months.
Such support could be the difference in the battle against the drop, should United harness it and use it as a 12th man in times of need. That sentiment is of particular importance at Elland Road, where intimidating and fearsome atmospheres are the norm.
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