Leeds United ‘haunted’ by what happened as Farke woes resurface v Preston
Leeds United are just like any club in the Championship in struggling for a lengthy run of wins, according to Ian Darke.
The TV broadcaster, speaking exclusively to MOT Leeds News, reacted as Daniel Farke’s side salvaged a point in an unglamorous but hard-fought battle at Preston North End on Saturday [14 December].
Darke has put the occasional dip in performance level down to the schedule and standard of the division, and has admitted the Whites could be “haunted” by their sluggish end to last term which then culminated in the play-off final heartache against Southampton.
“If you look at their form generally, they’re grinding out enough points to stay in the top two. When they drop points, the way I see it is it’s to do with the schedule and how tough the league is. It’s really hard to put together a sequence of eight or nine wins for any club,” Darke explained.
“So unless they’re hit by some collective neurosis and freeze up, they should be okay. It will get nervy, they’ve been there before and so has Farke. They will be a little bit haunted by slowing down and then losing the play-off final. I don’t think the nerves of the fans can cope with another play-off campaign.
“From a Leeds perspective, you would hope that would give them the steel to get it done this time around.”
Leeds United set for 92 points on current average
Leeds United have averaged two points per game in the Championship so far this season, which if maintained would present a total of 92 points.
Farke steered his team to a 90-point haul last term, which was only enough for third place and the subsequent play-off drama which consigned the club to another year out of the top flight.
Among the 20 complete seasons of the current Championship format, Leeds’ points total of last season would have been enough for automatic promotion in 14 of those.
In other Leeds news, a potential show of interest in a defender who left the Premier League last summer.
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