Here are the latest Leeds United morning headlines on Friday, May 19.
Cooper details Nottingham Forest advantage in relegation climax
Ahead of the penultimate weekend of the Premier League season, Nottingham Forest boss Steven Cooper has spoken of the advantage that his side have in the battle against the drop.
Forest will begin the weekend sitting 16th in the table on 34 points, two clear of Everton in 17th and three ahead of Leeds who currently occupy the final relegation slot. The Tricky Trees have a tough match against Arsenal this weekend, but Cooper is happy that his side have their fate in their own hands.
READ MORE: LIVE updates from Sam Allardyce's pre-West Ham press conference
“It was a very different situation last year, but wherever you are in the league, when you’re playing for something you always want it to be in your hands,” he said in his pre-match press conference. “We have managed to create that for now, and that’s what we’ve got to try to capitalise on.
“There’s a lot of hard work to do that and a lot of good things need to happen to keep it that way. But we’ve got to have the confidence and the motivation - which I believe we have - to make it that way.
“There’s a mini-league going on in our part of the table and we want to stay, minimum, where we are now. But there’s so much that can happen in the next two games. We’ve just got to concentrate on what we’re in control of, concentrate on the present, getting the best out of every day - I believe we are all doing that, staff and players - and that gives us the best chance.”
Allardyce could make first-time pick for Leeds United issue in West Ham trenches
Leaders are needed in the trenches and that may be one of the big dilemmas for Sam Allardyce when he takes Leeds United to West Ham United on Sunday. Junior Firpo’s dismissal last weekend will throw open at least one role the head coach needs to fill and he has options.
The obvious route to go down would seem to be Pascal Struijk’s first start since April 17’s Liverpool thrashing. The Dutch defender has played at left-back for the majority of this season or could even slot into central defence alongside Rasmus Kristensen and allow Max Wober out wide.
With only two games to play, there are not that many selection calls for Allardyce to make before the campaign ends. Every one of them matters hugely in this quest to pick up six points before Tottenham Hotspur depart Elland Road on the final day.
Best and worst-case weekend scenarios facing Leeds United
Leeds United have just two matches left to ensure their long-awaited return to the Premier League does not end after three seasons. The Whites need to pick up points while relying on their relegation rivals to stumble elsewhere.
Survival specialist Sam Allardyce was called upon with just four matches remaining, and his two games in charge so far have brought a solitary point. Leeds' delivered an improved display in a narrow defeat at defending champions Manchester City, while a 2-2 draw was played out with high-flying Newcastle United at Elland Road last time out.
However, this mini-revival could still come to a shuddering halt in the penultimate weekend, with United currently sat a point adrift of safety. It is not a scenario Leeds' fans will enjoy contemplating, but the worst-case scenario for the upcoming fixtures could condemn the Whites to relegation with a match to spare.
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