Don’t lose, absolutely do not concede first and try to keep your heads above water until Tottenham Hotspur visit. Sam Allardyce has cut through the speculation and algorithms with the clearest do-or-die verdict on how Leeds United stay in the Premier League.
The Whites are second from bottom in the table and two points from safety with nine still to play for against the league’s third, 15th and sixth-placed clubs. With more than 90 per cent of the season behind them, Leeds cannot wait much longer to start picking up the points which save them from relegation.
Saturday’s clash with Newcastle United may represent the sternest of the three tests remaining, but Allardyce sees little margin for error. With Elland Road at their backs and an uninterrupted week behind them, avoiding defeat is essential.
