Michael Owen reckons playing with 10 men for more than an hour during Sunday's 2-1 defeat at Arsenal will have taken its toll on Leeds United's players ahead of tomorrow night's vital home clash against Chelsea. The former Liverpool, Real Madrid and England striker also believes Luke Ayling being suspended for the rest of the season - due to his 27th-minute red card at the Emirates for serious foul play - will have a detrimental impact on the Elland Road club's bid to beat the drop.
Right-back Ayling's three-match ban has given Whites boss Jesse Marsch a genuine dilemma in terms of who to call upon in that position. Stuart Dallas would normally be the obvious choice to deputise in the role, but he is out for an expected six months after breaking his leg against Manchester City nine days ago.
Jamie Shackleton is another option but he has not started a Premier League game since the 7-0 thrashing at Manchester City in December and Marsch suggested in his pre-match press conference that one of the centre backs could be pressed into wider action or that he could even turn to Dan James or Raphina in a wing-back role as another possible solution to the problem.
Commenting on the outlook at Elland Road ahead of tomorrow's meeting with the reigning Champions League winners, as part of his Midweek Predictions slot on the BetVictor website, Owen said: "Leeds now find themselves in the relegation zone, it’s been a tough few weeks for the club.
"They showed some fight against Arsenal but to play with 10 men for well over a half is asking too much of this side. You can’t have disciplinary issues this late in the season, the games are too important to be a man down."
BT Sport pundit Owen also admitted he had been unimpressed by Chelsea's recent results - with just five points taken from as many games since last month's 6-0 victory at Southampton. But he feels minds will be focussed on the need to pick up maximum points with fourth-placed Arsenal now breathing down their necks and Tottenham still able to overhaul Thomas Tuchel's men in the fight for Champions League places.
Owen is, therefore, predicting a Chelsea win and a goal-less night for Leeds, reasoning: "For Chelsea, they too find themselves under some pressure.
"For most of the season, it would have been unthinkable for them to finish outside the top four, but they are making things difficult for themselves. With Arsenal just a point behind, they can’t afford any more dropped points.
"I think Chelsea will win this though. Leeds are really struggling, 2-0 Chelsea."
