Leeds United go into the game at Old Trafford tomorrow guaranteed to be at least three clear of the relegation zone after Spurs’ defeat on Sunday.
Nerves were sent jangling on Friday night as Leeds fans watched on at West Ham collecting a massive three points at home to Wolves, while doing their goal difference a big help, winning 4-0.
It was then over to Spurs and Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon, who faced Sunderland away and Aston Villa at home respectively.
Spurs lose 1-0 at Sunderland to stay in relegation zone, three points adrift of Leeds United
The hope for Leeds was that Sunderland’s revived hopes of a European finish would see them put Roberto De Zerbi’s side to the sword at home.
It was a close game with Spurs justifiably aggrieved at refereeing decisions going against them, as Nordi Mukiele’s deflected second-half strike proved the difference.
A 1-0 defeat in De Zerbi’s first game leaves Spurs two adrift in the bottom three. Meanwhile, Forest pegged back Villa to draw at home and move level with Leeds on 33 points. That means Leeds stay in 15th on goal difference, three points clear of Spurs with our game at Man Utd to follow tomorrow.
Cristian Romero dealt potential knee injury setback as Spurs sweat over new setback
One of the decisions Spurs will have felt hard done by was the lack of punishment for Sunderland’s Brian Brobbey.
The Dutchman chased down a loose ball that found its way to Spurs ‘keeper Antonin Kinsky. As Cristian Romero looked to shield it back to his ‘keeper, Brobbey barged the centre-back into a collision with his teammate, and the impact looked nasty for the Argentine’s knee, clearly bending the wrong way.
Romero was unsurprisingly left in a heap, and was unable to continue, subbed off eight minutes after this incident. As he left the pitch, he was visibly in tears, clearly in distress as his World Cup hopes could be in serious doubt.
After the game, De Zerbi was unable to give a precise update.
“We don’t know yet,” he told Football.London. “We have to see the next days. I hope for us it’s not important a problem because he’s a crucial player for us. A good guy, top player, big personality and we need him to finish the season and to achieve our goal. Maybe yes [his knee] but I don’t want to say nothing until we know more.”
Leeds United need to hammer home Spurs’ relegation reality
An injury to Spurs’ best defender is absolutely catastrophic for De Zerbi, if he’s ruled out for the foreseeable.
We have our own job to do, of course. That said, Spurs not getting back on track under their new manager gives us a real push to kick on.
Of course, getting a win at Old Trafford looks a huge ask, but even a point would be great for us.
There’s a real opportunity for us to head into May’s six-pointer against Spurs with a healthy cushion. Consequently, we have the chance to hammer home the reality that they’re the team going down. Not us.