{{primary_category}}
{{/primary_category}} 
Jim White calls out Leeds United fans on talkSPORT as Danny Mills reacts from Elland Road
Jim White called out Leeds United supporters for creating a toxic atmosphere in the stadium, as he spoke to Danny Mills outside Elland Road for talkSPORT, ahead of the must-win Premier League clash with Leicester City.
Former Whites player Mills responded with a reasoned defence of the fans, stating that they will fully back the players if they are giving their all on the pitch.
Head coach Javi Gracia goes into this game knowing that a win would create a five-point gap over the Foxes and the bottom three in the Premier League.
TalkSPORT anchor White made the bold statement ahead of the BT Sport live game which kicks off at 8:00pm.
“When things go badly wrong for Leeds United, there is a toxicity in the home support. We don’t want to see that tonight, Gracia and the boys don’t want to see it,” he stated.
“No, it’s always been that way Jim, even when I played here,” was the response from Mills.
Subscribe to Football Insider TV now
“If we weren’t winning 1-0 at half-time, sometimes there would be jeers. This crowd, they expect hard work, they expect fight and spirit. They haven’t really seen that in the last three games and if you give that, they will forgive results.
“The team need to put in a performance tonight, with grit and determination, to do everything possible to stay in this division. If the fans get that, they will back them.
“You have to give 100% every single time, fight to the very end. It will be some atmosphere here, this evening.”
Pressure and responsibility
White’s comment on its own lacked context or rationale.
The Leeds fans are known to be fiercely loyal, passionate and vociferous. They give their all in support of their team and they expect the same in return, from their players.
They are not having a go at the team and the coach for nothing, far from it. White’s comments of Gracia and the team not wanting to face a negative reaction from the stands is foolish and doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. As Mills said, it’s not about the result, it’s about the application and effort in the performance.
Leicester will be fired up after their win over Wolves at the weekend so it should be a cracker in West Yorkshire tonight.
A draw doesn’t suit either team, knowing that a gap can be opened up on the other with a victory.
The winner can make a big stride toward Premier League safety with three precious points.
In other Leeds news, journalist Phil Hay is baffled by the treatment of this Whites player amid Bielsa-era comparison.