Martin Keown believes Leeds United will not be among the favorites for relegation from the Premier League. But he worries that Javi Gracia’s side will struggle to score.
The Whites were locked in a struggle to avoid going to the title game with the nine sides. Every team that sits 12th or lower in the Premier League table is looking back at the relegation zone. For Leeds, this is the second consecutive season of striving to avoid relegation.
Jesse Marsch took the Elland Road local to safety on the final day of the final day after replacing Marcelo Bielsa at the helm. But the season’s results cost the American his job in February, with Gracia in charge. However, the Spaniard has not overseen consistent results.
Leeds United enter the Premier League relegation zone this weekend
Leeds even moved into the relegation zone this weekend, having scored the league-low five times all season. Gracia even oversaw one of those victories after leading the Whites to a 1-0 win over relegation rivals Southampton. But the intimate matter is also his first game in charge.
Fulham then beat Leeds 2-0 before Chelsea edged out 1-0. Jack Harrison then saved a point in a 2-2 home draw with Brighton and Hove Albion. He also scored when the Whites visited Wolves on Saturday. Leeds went on to beat 10-man Wolves 4-2 at Molyneux.
Martin Keown backs Whites to avoid falling into title
Ahead of Leeds’ visit to Wolves, Keown warned Gracia that the Whites’ struggles in goal scoring could prove costly in the relegation battle. But he believes the Elland Road native will not return to the Championship after three years in the top flight.
Instead, his biggest worry was Nottingham Forest following Friday’s 2-1 loss to Newcastle United. The Reds are winless in their last six games since beating Leeds 1-0 in Marsch’s last game on February 2. Elland Road chiefs sacked the American after losing City Ground.
Along with Nottingham Forest, Keown believes Southampton and AFC Bournemouth are the two favorites now to move on and endure relegation from the Premier League.
“I think Forest are in free fall and last night’s loss meant a lot to them,” Keown told the BBC final score“At the start of the season I thought the bottom three were Forest, Southampton and Bournemouth and I wouldn’t give it up.
“While I’m watching Leeds and wondering where are they going to find the win? They have to start scoring goals and they have to do it now.”
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