Leeds United duo Luke Ayling and Liam Cooper to have major say in relegation fight
Luke Ayling and Liam Cooper need to teach their Leeds United teammates how to “dig deep” in the club’s fight for survival, according to Leeds Live journalist Oliver Jones.
The experienced duo were in a similar position with the Whites last season, and have now been urged to use that experience to help other players keep the club in the division.
Javi Gracia’s side are just two points away from the relegation zone with seven matches remaining.
“While fans will obviously find disappointment in the fact that their side is in a second consecutive relegation battle, the experience could come in handy,” Jones wrote for Leeds Live.
“While it was a different atmosphere around the club last season compared to now with Javi Gracia in charge, most of the squad were there on the final day of the season against Brentford, and in turn for the last-minute equaliser against Brighton.
“The ability to dig deep and stay in the Premier League for another season is something players like Luke Ayling and Liam Cooper will have to teach to those who haven’t felt pressure like this before.”
Time to step up
The burden isn’t, of course, solely on Ayling and Cooper, but the experienced pair can definitely help their teammates in dealing with the pressures of a relegation battle.
But even then that must be done primarily in the changing room and on the training ground, with both players not exactly regulars on the pitch.
Ayling had been enjoying a strong run in the starting XI before watching on from the bench in the defeat to Liverpool, while Cooper is certainly not in favour under Gracia.
But they will still play an important role in the fight for safety given how it needs to be a collective effort, with no real room for disharmony at Elland Road.
The Whites have a chance to get back on track when they travel to Fulham on Saturday (22 April), with the players desperate to make up for the disastrous displays against Palace and Liverpool.
Perhaps they will have more luck on the road than they have had in recent matches at Elland Road.
In other Leeds United news, Chris Sutton has predicted the result between the Whites and Fulham in their Premier League clash this weekend.