David Prutton makes new Leeds United claim live on Sky Sports after Leicester City win
David Prutton does “not agree” with the verdict that the automatic promotion spots are already wrapped up as he backed Leeds United to push all the way.
Leeds picked up a 1-0 victory at the King Power Stadium on Friday (3 November) to snap Leicester City’s nine-match winning streak and stay firmly in contention for a top-two finish.
The Whites are now 11 points behind leaders Leicester, despite only losing one game less, while second-placed Ipswich are seven points better off ahead of playing their game in hand against Rotherham United on Tuesday (7 November).
Speaking on Sky Sports News on Tuesday [7 November, 10:43], Prutton said: “A lot of the chatter about the [Leicester] game is that it was a plucky Leeds performance.
“Leeds fell out of the Premier League at the same time as Leicester City and their ambitions are exactly the same – to get back there as soon as possible.
“I thought they defended tremendously well; Georginio Rutter was in the right place at the right time; Illan Meslier made a big save at the end of the game. They showed a way of going to Leicester and coming away with all three points.
“The gap would have been 17 points had Leicester won, but now it’s ‘just’ 11. Leeds’ next port of call is cutting the gap on second and then possibly catching Leicester. I don’t agree with what a lot of people are saying in that it’s done and dusted.
“I think Leicester have been the standout performers this season, but Leeds showed a way to beat them. Leicester have now lost two games, while Leeds have lost three, so it’s those fine margins of draws for Leeds that has created this gap, but there’s plenty of time.”
The chase is on
The victory in the East Midlands really was massive for Leeds United. As Prutton points out, what could have been a 17-point Leicester lead is now down to 11.
That is still a huge gap to make up, even if we are only in early November, but it makes little difference if the Whites finish first or second – or indeed sixth if we go up via the play-offs.
Chasing down Ipswich is the top priority, and for that to happen Leeds need the Tractor Boys – seeking successive promotions – to start dropping points more regularly.
Daniel Farke’s men have been very consistent over the past month or so and need to keep it up now as we gear up towards the festive period.
That may set up quite the contest at Elland Road when the sides face off in a pre-Christmas tussle on 23 December. Bring it on!
In other Leeds United news, a former club owner has suggested the Whites would be a better club to take over than Everton for 777 Partners.