Russell Martin shares what he saw from Leeds fans live in the flesh at QPR
Southampton manager Russell Martin has described the frustration of his team’s supporters to that of Leeds United fans as the two meet on Saturday.
Leeds are heavily reliant on events elsewhere in the club’s faint hopes of automatic promotion to the Premier League as they host Saints on Saturday at 12:30pm.
Daniel Farke’s men must beat Martin’s side – and hope Ipswich Town are defeated by all-but-relegated Huddersfield Town at Portman Road – to immediately return to the top flight with Leicester City.
“I didn’t expect many fans to stay behind in the rain after we’d just lost 1-0,” Martin told the Southern Daily Echo as a large majority of the St. Mary’s faithful left before their team’s lap of appreciation, following a third straight defeat by Stoke City.
“I sense [Leeds] fans felt very similar to ours after our defeat to Stoke – I was at their game at QPR.
“When you manage a club like this, you have to expect those expectations.”
Leeds must recover and utilise Elland Road atmosphere
Whilst Southampton have already confirmed their fourth-place finish, Leeds’ fate still remains undecided – despite some corners writing them off.
The Yorkshiremen’s superior goal difference over Ipswich keeps their automatic promotion hopes hanging by a thread, and they must mentally readjust and do their job come Saturday.
A surprise lead for Huddersfield at Ipswich would instantly switch the mood at Elland Road, and that atmosphere is key to Leeds securing the three points they need at a bare minimum.
Whilst there has to be a degree of preparation for their likely play-off campaign set in place, far stranger events have happened – particularly in the Championship.
Leeds’ issue at times this campaign has been an inability to get the best out of their star-studded squad as a unit, as opposed to Ipswich who have ridden the momentum of their League One promotion incredibly well.
At the same time – of course – the Whites need their big-game players to deliver, and if their Yorkshire neighbours do snatch a win in East Anglia, the lift in mentality would be considered thoroughly worthwhile.
In other Leeds news, the club have been criticised over failure to prevent second-hand ticket sales.
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