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Leeds Live

Sport

George Bennett

Premier League relegation battle as told by those in the trenches as Leeds United face tense run-in

Leeds United EPL Crystal Palace JeanKevin Augustin the Premier League BBC Sport West Ham

Leeds United missed the opportunity to move five points clear of the relegation zone following their 5-1 defeat against Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Instead, Leeds sit in 16th place, and only two points clear of the Premier League relegation zone with eight games remaining.

Just 10 points separate the bottom nine clubs, and with the relegation battle as tight as ever, LeedsLive have rounded up what every manager involved has said about the fight for survival...

ALSO READ: Jean-Kevin Augustin's post-Leeds United journey after fresh twist in ongoing saga

Steve Cooper

“The key thing now is about the next period of games until the end of the season," the Nottingham Forest boss said in his pre-match press conference ahead of their defeat to Aston Villa.

“The biggest thing that we’ve done here in the last 18 months is build belief - build belief in our club, in our city, in our team, in the way we work, the relationships with each other. Now is the time to believe more than ever.

“That’s where we have to really focus, believing in how we play, believing in how good we can be, believing in our teammates, now’s the time to really show that.

"What we need to remind ourselves of is that we are only three points off 12th place and that's exactly the mindset that keeps us striving to be better."

David Moyes

The West Ham manager told BBC Sport said after West Ham's win over Fulham on Saturday: "Two clean sheets in a week, won two games 1-0, so I think when you're in this position in the league, you have to win games. It might not always be the best.

"We would like to be playing better and much higher from a league position but we're not so that's where you have to understand how it is and find a way of getting your results."

Ruben Selles

The Southampton interim boss told BBC Match of the Day: "We knew it was a gigantic task when we took it on [against Manchester City]. We are performing and we are going to keep fighting for every point. We have enough goals in the side and we are going to go for it."

Julien Lopetegui

"Always the win is important but we have had good, happy days like today, (and) bad days like Leeds so we have to balance it really because I think it's gonna be the same for the next matches," Lopetegui told BBC Sport after Wolves' 1-0 over Chelsea.

"We have eight matches in front of us, now we have to put the focus into Brentford - it's a fantastic team -with a fantastic season - and put the focus 100% into each match. I don't know another way to compete in the Premier League."

Sean Dyche

"It is an education along the way of trying to win games, of trying to re-form a side in a different way, and look at different ways of winning games and different ways of making sure you don’t get beat," the Everton manager told reporters after their 2-0 defeat at Manchester United.

“It is a work in progress, it is not just about the back four and someone playing a longer pass, it is not just about that, it is about the details of the team and how we prevent that.

"We have been doing that pretty well to be fair, you have to remember it is a different type of judgement when you are playing against teams of this quality, you look around the group there and the investment is massive, it is there for a reason and they are very good players.”

Gary O'Neil

“I think away wins in the Premier League always feel very big. I mean, all wins for AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League feel big," the Bournemouth head coach said after their 1-0 win at Leicester.

“But an away win, at this time in the season. Then you add into it the fact that the team that you’re playing is in and around you in the league and it has a big feel to it.”