Leeds United: Danny Murphy ‘surprised’ by what he saw at Elland Road in new ‘pressure’ verdict
Danny Murphy has admitted he was shocked as Leeds United drew 0-0 with Sunderland at Elland Road as he claimed the pressure might be getting to Daniel Farke’s side.
Farke’s men struggled to a draw and lacked the cutting edge they have shown so often this season, leading the former Liverpool midfielder to insist the team is showing nerves.
Luckily for Leeds, Leicester also dropped points as they lost to Millwall at The Den, keeping the Whites within one point of the current league leaders, although Ipswich could move two clear with a win.
Speaking live on talkSPORT [11:07], Murphy shared: “The Championship is incredible, isn’t it? The ability for anyone to beat anybody is more prevalent in that league than any other.
“I was surprised Leeds drew, that’s showing some nerves really because Sunderland have been struggling and that was a game you’d expect them to win.
“With Leicester, it’s not like they’re playing that badly but there must be a little bit of nerves there too. It’s inevitable. Ipswich deserve great credit because to come up from League One and find yourselves in a position where if they win the rest of their games, they’re up.
“You’ve got to fancy Ipswich because they’re the ones without the pressure. Leeds desperately want to get back, Leicester desperately want to get back and you can see that anxiety in their play.”
Promotion battle continues to frustrate Leeds United
At this stage of the season, it almost seems like none of the top three teams actually want to get promoted. All three of Leeds, Leicester and Ipswich have dropped points despite expectations, throwing the picture into chaos.
One of the three will have to end up in the playoffs, a fate that Alan Brazil warned against and for good reason as the supporters at Elland Road will not have fond memories of their attempts at playoff glory in recent times.
A 0-0 draw at Elland Road is far from the end of the world for Leeds, but coming on a day when Leicester also lost will be an added source of frustration as they failed to take the opportunity to move ahead of their rivals.
If Leeds are beginning to show signs of the pressure getting to them, the expectation will be on Farke to use his experience of promotion with Norwich and guide his team over the finishing line with an automatic promotion place secured.
In other Leeds United news, a new legal development could emerge with the Premier League.
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