Chris Sutton predicts Leeds United showdown v Southampton in Premier League for BBC Sport
Chris Sutton has backed Leeds United to come away with a huge win against Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday 25 February.
The BBC pundit has predicted that it will finish 2-1 to the Whites, regardless of Javi Gracia being in the Elland Road dug out or not for the first time.
The Spaniard is having some work permit issues after being confirmed as our new head coach, as he looks to keep the club in the Premier League.
Writing in his BBC Sport column, Sutton believes that Gracia could have a very big impact in what could be his first game in charge if issues are ironed out.
“Whether or not Javi Gracia is allowed into the Leeds dugout, Ruben Selles will still be in charge of Southampton who haven’t appointed a new manager yet,” he wrote.
“It feels like I have been saying the same thing about Leeds for a long time during their winless run, in that their biggest problem is their inconsistency when they are trying to see out matches.
“But they haven’t played well for a while now, and they have failed to score in four of their past five league matches, which is a big reason why they are struggling.
“I still think Leeds are better than their results suggest, but their players are just not producing at the moment.
“They always get a raucous backing from the crowd at Elland Road but it doesn’t seem to lift them the same way Everton can raise their game at Goodison Park.
“Maybe Saturday is the day that changes. Yet again, I’m going with Leeds to win – but I’m not convinced that will happen.”
Huge.
What an occasion Saturday is going to be.
Elland Road is going to be bouncing with Gracia likely to be in the dugout given the amount of time the club has had to get his permit sorted, and he will be looking for nothing but three points.
It will finally be refreshing to see a new system, with the club still hung up on the days of Marcelo Bielsa and Jesse Marsch trying to do the exact same thing even though it was starting to fail every week.
Gracia has the experience of keeping clubs in the Premier League, not only that but taking them to the FA Cup final as he did with Watford, something he still has the chance to do with Leeds – starting at Fulham next week.
Three points is all that is on the menu over the weekend, with the performance, not exactly a top priority, with a loss more than likely leaving fans expecting relegation and nothing else.
Get that win.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay has shared an update on the coaching staff Javi Gracia plans to bring to the club.
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