Jeff Stelling flags Leeds United ‘issue’ as relegation gap set to close
Jeff Stelling has identified Leeds United’s scoring record during Premier League games as a major issue ahead of their game against Nottingham Forest.
Leeds will take on Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on 9 November after their recent 3-0 defeat to Brighton in the Premier League last Saturday.
The defeat was a heavy one, given that Leeds’ 2-1 win over West Ham had given fans hope of advancing higher on the table.
As a result, Daniel Farke will want to get a positive result on Sunday, but he’ll have to address the Whites’ home form beforehand.
Jeff Stelling predicts Nottingham Forest victory vs Leeds
Leeds United came close to netting against Brighton numerous times in the first half, but lost their nerve in the second.
This has been a constant issue for the Whites away from home this season, having failed to score in four of their last five away games in the top division.
Indeed, Leeds’ 3-1 win over Wolves was the only match where Farke’s players were able to get onto the scoresheet.
As a result, Stelling, in a clip uploaded onto talkSPORT’s X page on 6 November, believes that Forest will win 2-0 against Leeds on Sunday, which would drag the Whites further into relegation danger.
He said: “Could this already be a relegation six-pointer? Leeds’ lack of firepower on the road is a real issue. They’ve failed to score in four of their last five away Premier League games.
“Forest, by contrast, are showing real signs of improvement under Sean Dyche. A win here and they’d only be two points behind Leeds. Nottingham Forest two, Leeds nil.”
Indeed, Dyche’s side are currently 19th in the Premier League, having won and drawn their last two league fixtures. If they were to win at home, the Whites would find themselves in a very dangerous position indeed.
Leeds just do not create enough away from home
To put this into perspective, Leeds registered just 0.50 expected goals against Brighton last game.
Against Burnley, it was 0.45 and against Fulham, it was 0.79 expected goals. All disappointing performances and all of them ended in defeat.
Their win over Wolves? Oddly enough, it was the same story:
- Leeds registered 0.48 expected goals
- The Whites took four shots
- One was on target
This would see their win over Wolves as the exception rather than the rule.
Indeed, the Wolves dominated in almost every attacking metric, but failed to convert their chances. Meanwhile, Leeds seems to have had their scoring boots on that day.
Therefore, if the Whites want to triumph against Forest on Sunday, the need to create more quality goalscoring opportunities.
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