While Leeds United did not fully take advantage of the weekend’s results, Daniel Farke’s men have still increased the gap separating them and West Ham in 18th place.
Eight points now sit between Leeds in 16th and West Ham in 18th. It comes after a weekend in which the Hammers were beaten easily by rock-bottom Wolves. Bournemouth, Forest, and Burnley were beaten.
It handed Leeds the chance to open a 10-point gap on the bottom three, with West Ham remaining on 14 points in 18th. But Leeds could only manage a draw at home to Man United, with some fans frustrated.
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Daniel Farke himself said he “wasn’t over the moon” with the result and yet, disappointment with a draw against Man United shows how far Leeds have come. It is a brilliant point and Leeds are seven unbeaten.
The race for Premier League survival continues and Leeds remain right in the thick of it, with Newcastle away and Arsenal coming up in their next three matches. Gary Neville had his say on the relegation race.
Gary Neville believes Tuesday night is key in the survival race
There is another round of Premier League fixtures this week, before the third round of the FA Cup on the weekend. Leeds go to Newcastle, which promises to be a tricky game and threatens the unbeaten run.
But beforehand, a huge match between West Ham and Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. Speaking on his Sky Sports podcast, Neville believes the result of 17th against 18th on Tuesday is absolutely key.
“Everything seems toxic. What a club West Ham is, they’ve been down before, they’ll go down again – it may be this season. If they can drag Forest back down there; Leeds look really strong at the moment.
“They look like they’re going to pick up points through their togetherness, physicality. You’re going to have to drag a couple down with you if you’re West Ham, you’ll have to bring a couple back,” he said.
“What you can’t do is become cut adrift. Wolves and Burnley will really struggle, no chance. If West Ham can do some business, they have a manager who has done this before… Tuesday is the start of that.”
Realistically, how long can Leeds United’s unbeaten run go on for?
Daniel Farke has overseen Leeds' longest Premier League unbeaten run since David O'Leary in 2001
What result suits Leeds United best on Tuesday night?
The draw against Manchester United has not only seen Leeds go eight clear of West Ham, meaning the Hammers will have to win at least three more games than Leeds, but Leeds are four clear of Forest, too.
No one will have seen this when Leeds trudged off the pitch at the City Ground, having been thumped by Sean Dyche’s Forest, 3-1. But what result suits Leeds best on Tuesday night, when Forest face West Ham?
The buffer of Forest between Leeds and the relegation zone gives the club breathing space. Even if West Ham won, there would still be a gap of five points even before Leeds go to Newcastle on Wednesday.
If Leeds could pick the ideal result, it is probably a draw. That would see Forest go within three, and West Ham, seven. But if one side has to win, Leeds would surely pick West Ham to beat Forest on Tuesday.
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