Chris Sutton predicts outcome of Leeds United v Newcastle clash in Premier League for BBC Sport
Chris Sutton has predicted that Leeds United will fall to a 3-1 defeat against Newcastle at Elland Road this Saturday (13 May).
The Whites were plunged into yet further relegation trouble as both Everton and Nottingham Forest claimed three points on Monday evening (8 May) to leave Sam Allardyce’s side in 19th position with just three games of the Premier League season remaining.
Writing in his weekly column for BBC Sport, Sutton predicted that despite having a “raucous” Elland Road crowd behind them, Newcastle’s front line, which includes the bang-in-form Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak, would prove too hot to handle.
“I understand why Leeds can take heart from the scoreline in their 2-1 defeat at Manchester City last week, but the way the game went for the first 85 minutes or so was far less encouraging for Sam Allardyce’s side,” he wrote.
“After this game, Leeds have got West Ham away and Tottenham at home to end their season. At this point it is difficult to know how many points they will need to stay up, but they simply have to get something from this game.
“A win would probably lift them out of the bottom three and would be absolutely massive, but I just don’t see it happening.
“Yes, Elland Road will be raucous because of what is at stake for the home side but I don’t think Newcastle will be fazed by that, and their forward line will be too strong for the Leeds backline.
“Leeds will sit in and try to hit Newcastle on the counter – that’s the Allardyce way – but it didn’t work against City and it won’t work here, either.”
Season defining
Leeds United are in dire straights right now and quite simply need to pick up a result this weekend to keep their Premier League survival chances alive.
Despite a healthy-looking 2-1 scoreline against Manchester City last weekend, it could quite as easily have been five or six on another day.
Allardyce’s side attempted to sit back and soak up the pressure from the Premier League champions, but this is not a game plan that this crop of players are used to, considering the attacking philosophy of Marcelo Bielsa and Jesse Marsch.
The positive news for Leeds is that their direct relegation rivals face tough tests this weekend, with Everton taking on Manchester City, Leicester City hosting Liverpool and Nottingham Forest travelling to Stamford Bridge.
This really feels like 90 minutes that could swing the club’s whole season on a dime and give renewed hope to the fight against the drop.
It won’t be an easy task, but with Allardyce at the helm and the Elland Road crowd behind them, Leeds will look to relish in their underdog status and nick a huge result.
In other Leeds news, a journalist has shared if two Leeds players will be available for the run-in after an official announcement on Thursday.