Daniel Feliciano

Sat 27 May 2023 11:10, UK

Troy Deeney has admitted that Leeds have got the toughest job of avoiding relegation from the Premier League this weekend and believes Elland Road could turn “nasty” without a good start.

The Whites must beat Tottenham at Elland Road on Sunday and hope that both Everton and Leicester drop points in their own respective games in order to still be a Premier League club next season.

But Deeney wrote in his column for The Sun (26 May) that he can see a scenario where Everton are beaten comfortably by Bournemouth and that would open the door for a “gut-wrenching” end to the season for two teams.

“I can see a scenario where Everton could either win comfortably — or lose comfortably and then everything is wide open,” he wrote.

“I know Dyche’s boys can afford not to win and still stay up, but imagine holding out for a draw and then Leicester go and snatch a late goal?  Gut-wrenching.

“That’s why, in a strange way, you’d almost prefer to be in the shoes of Leicester or Leeds. You know what you need to do — win — and then pray for a miracle.

“Leeds have it toughest, no doubt. They need a swing of goals going for them and they need to get on the front foot from the first minute against Tottenham.

“You need to start well or it turns nasty and then nine times out of ten it is game over. Few players rise to the challenge in those circumstances.”

Uno reverse

Obviously there is pressure on Sam Allardyce and the Leeds players to avoid relegation, but you could almost say there is no pressure because there is very limited expectation.

Leeds can go into the game and win 10-0, but if either Everton or Leicester are able to win too then it will mean absolutely nothing.

So there’s no point paying much attention to the other games and what’s happening there, because if Leeds don’t do their own job for the game then whatever happens at Goodison Park and the King Power Stadium won’t matter in the slightest.

Allardyce has to get the players motivated to go out and perform for the fans, which is hard enough considering they haven’t won for nine games, but as long as there is hope to stay up then we simply have to push for it.

Elland Road will be supportive until the very end, but if the worst is confirmed on the day then you can expect that they will make their feelings towards the board crystal clear.

In other Leeds news, Mark Lawrenson has predicted the result of Leeds vs Tottenham on the final day of the season.