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Seven games to go and Leeds United’s form is deserting them at the worst possible time.
It was only a fortnight ago they beat Nottingham Forest at Elland Road to move out of the bottom three. But two heavy home defeats in just over a week have now put them in danger of finishing the season in those relegation places.
The big disappointment for Leeds fans is that this season was supposed to be different.
Chairman Andrea Radrizzani said he had ‘no doubts’ that Leeds would avoid the scenario that saw them narrowly stay up on the final day of last season at Brentford. But here we are, almost 12 months later, hurtling again towards that end of season jeopardy.
On the plus side, Javi Gracia has shown that he can get the team organised to win games. But there have been worrying signs in the last two matches with question marks over team selection, substitutions and tactics.
A lack of leaders when the going gets tough has been apparent, yet captain Liam Cooper has become a peripheral figure under Gracia and was again on the bench last night. The absence of Max Wober and Tyler Adams through injury has had a major impact. Wilfried Gnonto, a shining light earlier in the season, also finds himself out of the starting 11.
Tactically Leeds have looked to have more structure under Gracia. But some of the intensity has been lost and the team have looked far too vulnerable on the counter-attack in the last two games.
Leeds also need more of an impact from their January transfer window signings. With the exception of Wober, the other recruits are taking time to find their feet. Record signing Georginio Rutter has struggled to make his mark.
There is a certain irony that Cody Gakpo, the man that Leeds were close to signing last summer, got the first goal at Elland Road last night.
It has been another season of flux for Leeds, but the one constant has been the fans. They have stuck with the team even during those heavy defeats against Crystal Palace and Liverpool. With home games to come against Leicester, Tottenham and Newcastle, they could yet have a crucial part to play in helping the players recover from the two ruthless beatings that threaten to derail their season.
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