Sam Allardyce took on a philosophical approach as he attempted to digest Leeds United’s 3-1 defeat to West Ham United at the London Stadium. It was a performance and result that offered little encouragement when it comes to Leeds’ survival hopes and with one game remaining they find themselves staring down the barrel of relegation.
United now know there is the possibility that a win on the final day against Tottenham Hotspur might not be enough. They need a number of results to go their way from here on in and that includes tonight’s game between Newcastle United and Leicester City, with the Foxes looking to move out of the relegation zone by collecting three points at St James’ Park.
It always going to be a challenge for Allardyce, who took the Leeds reins with just four Premier League fixtures remaining. The Whites appeared down and out at Bournemouth, just a few days before his arrival, and turning them around in such a small space of time was always going to be one of the trickiest tasks he has taken on during his extensive career.
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Unfortunately, Leeds have secured just one point from the 68-year-old’s first three games in charge and that leaves the club in an extremely precarious position. It’s not over just yet and Allardyce will have his fingers and toes crossed that Leeds can get the job done against all the odds, but he doesn’t regret daring to take on the job.
“Well, if we don't make it, in the end it's a challenge of trying your best when you come here and trying to do your best for the club,” Allardyce said in east London on Sunday afternoon. "Particularly this club, it's worked so hard to get back in the Premier League.
“I can only try my best and give the players the right sort of instructions to show them how to how to win a game of football. Unfortunately for me and for them that hasn't worked yet so we have to try and get that to work on Sunday.
“It was always going to be a difficult task. I mean, lots of people said how mad I am taking it, but I'm not mad. I just love football and Leeds United was too big a job to turn down for me, however short it was.”
