It was another thrilling chapter in the relegation battle at the weekend as the book on the 2021/22 Premier League season nears its end. Leeds United picked up a critical win in their pursuit of staying in the top-flight after beating bottom side Norwich City on the weekend.
In a topsy-turvy game at Elland Road, Rodrigo gave the Whites the lead with a deflected effort, before Leeds created a number of chances to add a second. However, it was Norwich who scored the next goal as Kenny McLean levelled in injury-time.
Leeds didn't give up and secured a last-gasp winner through Joe Gelhardt as he tapped home Raphinha's low cross. It was a result of huge significance towards the bottom, with the Whites now four points clear of the relegation zone heading into the final nine games of the campaign.
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Along with Leeds, fellow newly promoted club Watford boosted their survival chances with a win at the weekend whereas both Everton and Burnley picked up no points. Here is what every manager has had to say on the Premier League relegation battle.
Frank Lampard (Everton)
Everton’s 68-year stay in the top division is under threat after a 1-0 defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday. The Toffees are back in action tomorrow night (Thursday) when they take on Newcastle United at Goodison Park.
Here is what Frank Lampard had to say on relegation fears at Everton from his pre-match press conference earlier today (Wednesday).
He said: “If you walk around in fear of that happening then there is a good chance that you are adding to the chance it may happen. We know where we’re at, it is not time for lies or to change the story, we know where we’re at.
“We have also seen this club stay up in this league on the last day of the season a couple of times. So, it is nothing that is absolutely new and maybe that is why the nerves creep in and the feeling with the players and fans that is human nature.
“For us, it is not about having fear of what might be, it is what can we action, what can we deal with. We deal with these 12 games in front of us.”
Roy Hodgson (Watford)
Watford increased pressure on 17th-placed Everton after securing a 2-1 win against Southampton on Sunday, leaving them level on points with the Toffees. Hodgson says the “attitude and desire was there for all to see” from his Hornets side, who only remain in the bottom three due to goal difference.
Hodgson’s men now have nine games left to climb out of the relegation zone and the Watford boss believes the win at St Mary's has fuelled their desire for more victories.
He said: “Resilience is such an important factor in top Premier League football. It doesn’t matter if you’re at the bottom or fighting for a place in the Champions League, to stay in the game and deal with the corners and free-kicks that might be coming your way, you’ve got to have the resilience to come through that.
“There's not going to be many games that aren't going to be as edgy towards the end, with teams loading balls into your penalty area. That's inevitable as the need greatens. It's a great result and it will fuel our desire to win at home as well as away.”
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Sean Dyche (Burnley)
Burnley dropped to 19th in the table on Saturday after a 2-0 defeat against relegation rivals Brentford. However, only a point separates the Clarets from climbing out of the bottom three.
Dyche believes his side were not far off from claiming a win against the Bees. Here is what he had to say on the relegation battle.
Dyche said: “Over the season the margins have been tight and there have been some when we have come away from our performance but definitely not (against Brentford). We did for ten minutes against Chelsea and against Leicester for less than that, one moment really.
“But that is football and a moment can change your filter, you can look at a very good performance and decide it was a bad performance because you lose and you have to be careful with that, well I do.
“I don’t think we were far away (against Brentford). If we had come away with a point I think we would have taken it but we could have won it.
“If we had come away with a win then you could argue we deserved it. That is how hard it is to judge a scoreline and take the emotion out of it.”
Dean Smith (Norwich)
As all Leeds fans will know, Norwich suffered their seventh successive defeat at Elland Road and put a massive dent in their own chances of survival. The Canaries' one-year stay in the Premier League could be coming to an abrupt end and sit five points behind 17th-place Everton.
Smith believes that his side are coming into a massive month, with Brighton & Hove Albion and Burnley to come in their next two matches. Here is what he had to say in his post-Leeds press conference.
Smith said: “It’s a massive month now. It’s going to be a tough three weeks without a game.
“You want games to try to bounce back, but it will give us some time, certainly this week, to work with the players on what we’re after come April. Then we lose 14 or so players during the international break and only have got eight training, so it’s a tough period for all.
“I wasn’t happy with the first half performance again (at Leeds), but was pleased with the second half performance and felt we should have got something out of it.
“Ultimately, both boxes have cost us and that’s why we are where we are in the league at the moment."
