Leeds United is a club on the edge at the moment. With just two games left to play this season, the Whites are in the Premier League’s relegation zone and unless something changes, they will succumb to relegation after just three years in the top flight.
The full knock-on effects of relegation are unclear at this stage, but it’s never a good thing for any organisation and after spending 16 years in the Football League wilderness, Leeds know bouncing back isn’t always straightforward. As the campaign draws to a close, then, anxiety is beginning to set in across the board.
The players are most definitely feeling the strain on the pitch. They turned in what was in many ways a promising performance against Newcastle United on Saturday, but it wasn’t enough to claim more than a single point, keeping them in the bottom three heading into the penultimate weekend.
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It was mostly their own doing, too, after giving away two preventable penalties to gift the Champions League chasing Newcastle, who didn’t create a plethora of chances, traction in the contest. Those Callum Wilson efforts from the spot came after United had spurned the chance to go 2-0 up in the first half as a Patrick Bamford penalty was saved by Nick Pope.
Bamford has hardly been firing on all cylinders of late and his penalty lacked the conviction required from a lead striker tasked with helping to keep a club in the top flight. The pressure, which has been felt by every member of the squad at various points over the last few weeks, got the better of him in that moment. He certainly did not deserve the vitriol that could be seen on social media over the weekend, though, and we’ll come back to that.
There’s pressure in the boardroom, too. For Andrea Radrizzani there’s more than just the club’s Premier League status on the line over the final fortnight. As with any owner, he has his investment to protect, but with the mooted takeover from 49ers Enterprises looking likely if Leeds stay up, he will know the impact of relegation could be massive.
His presence in the tunnel before kick-off on Saturday was a demonstration of the stress he is feeling, as was the board’s decision to take action a couple of weeks ago and replace Javi Gracia with Sam Allardyce. He’s done plenty of good at Leeds United since arriving at Elland Road in 2017, but relegation would represent a huge stain on his legacy.
The supporters are obviously feeling it as well and most have exercised their right to voice their concerns over the last month or so as the side slipped towards and into the bottom three. Given the situation Leeds find themselves in tempers have flared, but the incidents on Saturday involving irresponsible and mindless individuals clearly overstepped the mark.
Whether it was the man who left his Elland Road seat to confront Eddie Howe in the dugout or the hateful, toxic and vile words aimed to Bamford on social media, such actions are unacceptable and have rightly been condemned by so many, including the club, who felt the need to speak out regarding both incidents.
Nor do such actions help the team on the field, either. There’s no doubt about it, the stakes could not be higher between now and May 28. Leeds go to West Ham United on Sunday afternoon knowing that only a win will do if they’re to give themselves the best chance possible of staying up.
Tottenham Hotspur will be the Whites’ opponents on the final day and they have the advantage of being able to play such a colossal game on home soil. It is clear then that Leeds need to be backed by a united front over the final two matches.
The pressure is well and truly on at Elland Road, but every last ounce of energy must be focused on the survival push and togetherness from the stands to the pitch and the boardroom, might just be able to help Leeds over the line.
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