Six key fixtures Javi Gracia's Leeds United survival…

Six key fixtures Javi Gracia's Leeds United survival mission rests on

Javi Gracia has 15 games to keep Leeds United in the Premier League and convince the board that he is a worthy successor to Jesse Marsch at Elland Road.

The Spaniard, who previously managed Watford in the Premier League, has been appointed on a 'flexible contract', and ends Leeds' long and frustrating search for a new manager.

Gracia will be in the dugout for Leeds' next game against Southampton at Elland Road 'subject to obtaining the necessary work permissions'.

He now has the unenviable task of steering 19th-place Leeds away from relegation trouble having gone 10 league games without a single win.

Here are his most important fixtures before the end of the season...

25 February - Southampton (h)

Any manager will tell you that there is no more important game than his next, and that will very much be the case for Gracia.

Bottom place Southampton travel to Elland Road on Saturday looking to build on their 1-0 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Meanwhile, Leeds suffered a 1-0 defeat against relegation rivals Everton at Goodison Park, and will be aiming to avoid a repeat of that result against the Saints.

18 March - Wolves (a)

Wolves have looked like a side rejuvenated since Julen Lopetegui took over after the World Cup break, but are still only three points clear of the relegation zone.

Leeds won the reverse fixture 2-1 at Elland Road on the opening day, but have won just three out of their 22 games since in the Premier League.

4 April - Nottingham Forest (h)

Nottingham Forest are beginning to click following a difficult start upon their Premier League return. The Tricky Trees are unbeaten at home in the league since September, and moved five points clear of the drop zone with a 1-1 draw against reigning champions Manchester City on Saturday.

Brennan Johnson scored the only goal as Forest condemned Leeds to a 1-0 defeat in what proved to be Marsch's final game at the helm earlier this month.

Forest face a defining period which sees them face relegation rivals West Ham, Everton and Wolves in their next five games, before a trip to Elland Road.

25 April - Leicester City (h)

Leicester marked their return to form with a pair of victories over Aston Villa and Tottenham - scoring eight goals in the process.

They lost 3-0 in their last outing against Manchester United at Old Trafford, but look more than capable of surviving the drop.

Nonetheless, the Foxes have been terribly inconsistent under Brendan Rodgers this term, and are yet to free themselves from the relegation mire.

29 April - AFC Bournemouth (a)

The season will be nearing its climax when Leeds visit Dean Court in what promises to be a crucial relegation six-pointer.

The Cherries ended a run of seven games without a league win by beating Wolves 1-0 at Molineux on Saturday. However, Gary O'Neil's side face Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool respectively in their next three games.

Furthermore, Leeds' last league victory was against Bournemouth, as they came from behind to win 4-3 at Elland Road in November.

28 May - Tottenham (h)

The race for Premier League survival looks set to go down to the wire, and if it does, Leeds will have to overcome a difficult challenge in the shape of Tottenham Hotspur.

Leeds have lost four of their last five meetings against Spurs since returning to the Premier League in 2020, including a 4-3 defeat in the reverse fixture in November.

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