Here are your Leeds United headlines on Sunday May 7, 2023.
Shearer's warning for Leeds
Alan Shearer is not convinced a change of manager will be able to save Leeds United in their fight against relegation. The Whites may have staged a late comeback to put Manchester City under pressure on Saturday afternoon, but ultimately the 2-1 defeat left the side in a perilous position.
Pointing to the games that are still to come this season, but in particular the way the team have been defending this season, Shearer was less than convinced the appointment of Sam Allardyce will be enough to keep the Whites up.
Speaking on Match of the Day, Shearer said; "The next home game Nottingham Forest against Southampton is huge, I think Southampton have already gone. I think it's going to be tough for Leeds, particularly with the way they defend."
Read more: Sam Allardyce's first big Leeds United decision vindicated after ruthless break with trend
Big Sam message may haunt him
Martin Keown has warned Big Sam his words may come back to bite him if he can't keep Leeds in the Premier League. Speaking at his unveiling as the Whites' new boss, Allardyce told the press he was as good as Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp and that there was certainly nobody better in terms of football knowledge.
It was a comment which had the desired effect in hitting the headlines, but Keown feels it can be a stick used to beat Allardyce with if unsuccessful. Writing in the Daily Mail he said; "If Leeds stay up, that press conference unveiling will live long in the memory, but if they do not survive, quite like the accusations levelled at Marsch whenever he made excuses, Allardyce will be accused of talking codswallop."
Talking points
There was a wry smile on Allardyce’s face when he admitted he could finally confess his job was always going to be about the last three games. It’s a four-game project, but the new boss knew going away to City with three days in the building was mission impossible.
Allardyce and Leeds can now return to West Yorkshire, lip bloodied, but absolutely standing tall with easier tests ahead. They will now have the benefit of a full, clear week to prepare for the visit of third-placed Newcastle. The league situation, of course, remains perilous. While the goal difference survived a battering, this was still another game with zero impact on the points column. Leeds are vulnerable and face the real possibility of dropping into the bottom three before they play again.
Leicester City, Forest and Everton all play on Monday. The Foxes visit Fulham, while Forest host basement boys Southampton. Wins for either would put them three points clear of Leeds with nine still to play for. The Toffees visit Europe-chasing Brighton & Hove Albion and the form book would suggest they should remain one point behind the Whites. Leeds have to mentally prepare themselves for that bottom-three pressure.
Everyone knows their most winnable games come across the final fortnight. They have to accept they may drop into the relegation zone and then lose ground to their rivals next weekend too, before mounting their own rescue operation against West Ham United and Spurs.
See the full talking points here
Forshaw knows what must improve
Leeds United midfielder Adam Forshaw believes his side must improve in possession if they are to escape relegation.
"We probably didn't have enough quality on the ball on the day, but I think there are positives to take. We stuck at it and there was a chance at the end," said Forshaw.
"In all honesty, [the reason for being poor with the ball is] being knackered when you get it. I think sometimes you're behind the ball for that long, you're chasing it left to right and it's probably not having enough freshness in the legs to do something ourselves, at times.
"They [Man City] wear you down, but I think that'll be definitely something that we will want to improve on being at home next week against Newcastle. Try and use the ball a little bit better and continue with the shape that we've shown at times today."
