Mark Lawrenson predicts result of Leeds United Elland Road clash v Manchester United
Mark Lawrenson has made his prediction for Leeds United’s second clash with Manchester United this week at Elland Road, and is backing a positive result again.
The Whites claimed a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford in midweek in the first game since Jesse Marsch’s dismissal as manager, but felt they should have got more after taking a 2-0 lead.
But that performance has already convinced former BBC pundit Lawrenson that they can do it again, as he told Paddy Power (9 February) in his predictions column that he is picking a 1-1 draw between the sides.
“To be 2-0 up at Old Trafford and only draw 2-2 with Manchester United on Wednesday would have hurt Leeds but if you’d have said to their fans before the game that they’d get a point they would have been happy,” he said.
“I was never Jesse Marsch’s biggest fan but I liked watching his team, which is a bit mad to say. If they had beaten Nottingham Forest last week, which they should have done, he’d probably still be in a job which is just how football goes.
“I think this will be another draw. Leeds 1-1 Manchester United.”
Winnable
Heading into the game at Old Trafford in midweek the feeling was very much a negative one, especially before Marsch was sacked.
But the performance on the night certainly breathed new life into the fan base and there is a belief that with the Elland Road crowd behind us, there is no reason we can’t go one better and get the win.
There is pace in the squad, quality and an ability to hurt any team, while defensively the team looked strong for the most part until momentum swung and the crowd got more involved.
But this time the crowd will be on our side and pushing us to get stronger and do more, so there is no reason why we can’t pick up a vital three points in our push to avoid relegation.
A new manager looks unlikely to be in place in time for the game at this point as was originally hoped, so we need to carry over the momentum and spirit from that midweek clash and do a little bit more to earn a much-needed win.
In other Leeds news, a release clause has emerged as the club continue their pursuit for a new manager.