Mark Lawrenson predicts Leeds United vs Newcastle United result
Mark Lawrenson has predicted the Leeds United plight to get more dire with another defeat this weekend at the hands of Newcastle.
Sam Allardyce was drafted in with just four games remaining to rescue the Whites from relegation, but the situation has only got worse since with an expected defeat at Manchester City last week and wins for both Everton and Nottingham Forest.
Newcastle aren’t much more of an easy proposition than the defending champions and Lawrenson thinks that the result flattered Leeds United last week so has gone for a straight-forward 2-0 away win.
Lawrenson said in his Paddy Power predictions: “Although Leeds were alright against Manchester City they could have conceded six to be honest.
“It’s Sam Allardyce’s first game at home but I think Newcastle will win this as they need to get back on the horse. Leeds 0-2 Newcastle.”
Ticking clock
Most would have expected a pair of defeats from the City and Magpies games but if the action on the pitch follows the form on paper there is going to be a huge task remaining for the final two games.
And if relegation rivals pull out surprise goal-fest wins like Everton’s 5-1 at Brighton on Monday (8 May) as Forest triumphed 4-3 over Southampton then it may well be too late.
There is some pressure on Eddie Howe’s side though, with an outside chance that they could drop out of the Champions League places before the season ends.
They were beaten 2-0 at home by Arsenal in midweek last weekend, and fell to a 3-0 reverse at Aston Villa three weeks earlier, so they are anything but infallible.
The second half under Allardyce at the Etihad was much better than the first, and the fans will have to hope that a week more on the training pitch will make all the difference.
All bets are off at the moment with Leeds United onto their fourth manager of the season and having seen their director of football leave as well, so they are going to have to come up with an upset to get anything in a tough assignment in front of the home fans on Saturday (13 May).
In other Leeds United news, £300million has been set out by Phil Hay as the Whites’ plan for rescue if relegation can’t be avoided.