Here are your Leeds United evening headlines for Friday, May 26, 2023.
Allardyce addresses Spurs weaknesses
Leeds United manager Sam Allardyce has highlighted what he believes is Tottenham Hotspur's weakness and what his players need to do if they are to get a victory which will give them any chance of staying in the Premier League.
Leeds face a decisive final day in which they need to beat Tottenham and then hope results elsewhere go their way with Everton at home to Bournemouth and Leicester City hosting West Ham United.
"Controlled aggression, calm and composure particularly in possession is a necessity," explained Allardyce when asked what would be key to victory. "The more possession we have, the better quality we can deliver and the more we can get at Tottenham's defensive unit which I think is a weakness based on what we saw against Brentford last week.
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"We can't do that without ignoring what Tottenham's strengths are. So what we try and do is score first again, which we have done in the last two games and then failed miserably after that. However long the ball is in play, it'll be around maybe 55 minutes, so we want 55 minutes of pure concentration, not 90 minutes as the ball is out of play the other time.
"I want to see their best. The best will get the fans behind them and that will help them score or do what they need to do to get a result."
Striker fitness hope
Sam Allardyce admits he is prepared to 'gamble' on the injury front for Leeds United's do-or-die showdown with Tottenham. The Whites need to win at Elland Road on the final day, and hope results elsewhere go in their favour in order to avoid relegation.
Leeds were facing the prospect of an injury crisis up front, with Patrick Bamford and Rodrigo considered doubts to feature following the defeat at West Ham last time out. Quizzed on his striking options, Allardyce hinted Rodrigo is available while admitting a call will be made on Bamford's availability on Saturday,
Allardyce told reporters: "Rodrigo trained today [Friday]. Patrick, we're going to give him as long as we can, certainly until tomorrow, and see where we're at before we make our final selection for Sunday.
"Obviously in the striking area, we are not overwhelmed with strikers perhaps. It will be what will be when we find out tomorrow morning, and then pick the final eleven to start the game on Sunday."
Asked if this answer suggested he was prepared to 'gamble' on fitness calls, the interim Leeds' boss answered: "I will gamble on anyone's fitness if they want to play. If I think they're going to make a contribution to try and help us win the game. It's the last game, they can have plenty of time to recover.
"There is obviously medical issues where it depends if you risk them, the risk is too great. Then a lot of it is up to the player themselves."
Leeds pair shine for England
England U20's booked their place in the last-16 of the World Cup with a helping hand from Leeds United with both youngsters impressing. Whites duo Mateo Joseph and Darko Gyabi started for Ian Foster's side against Uruguay with the young Spanish forward the only change from their 1-0 win over Tunisia on Monday night.
However, it was Joseph's Leeds teammate Gyabi that notched the decisive goal to book the Three Lions place in the knockout stages of the tournament with a game to spare. Foster's side ran out 3-2 winners with goals from Bashir Humphreys, Alfie Devine and Gyabi to make it two wins from two.
Gyabi played the full game for Foster's side while Joseph was replaced by Daniel Jebbison on the hour mark. England now look to finish Group E on a high with a victory over Iraq on Sunday evening.
