Sunderland manager predicts whether Leeds will now finish in top two after draw last night

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Sunderland interim manager Mike Dodds has predicted whether Leeds United will now finish in the top two.

Dodds was speaking after last night’s 0-0 draw at Elland Road in which his side were able to frustrate Leeds for 90 minutes and come away with a respectable point for a mid-table outfit.

Sunderland were able to restrict Leeds to just a single shot on target over the course of the evening, which was only a tame header by Joe Rodon from a corner anyway.

Leeds should’ve certainly had at least one penalty but the greater concern for Daniel Farke will undoubtedly be a fourth consecutive lacklustre performance since the international break.

For the second game in a row Leeds also missed the chance to move top of the table amid Leicester City’s defeat at Millwall, and Ipswich Town can now really pile the pressure on with a win over Watford tonight.

Mike Dodds predicts whether Leeds will now finish in top two

A point was actually enough to move Leeds into the top two but as mentioned, Ipswich have the chance to move three points clear of the Whites later today.

Leeds had built so much momentum prior to the international break and so this blip in form comes at the worst possible time in the season.

Don Goodman believes Leeds’ front four had looked ‘unplayable’ during that period where Farke’s side were relentless, but have all simultaneously seen a drop in their levels.

However, speaking in his post-match press conference last night, Sunderland boss Dodds is still backing Leeds for top two and thinks they are the best side he has faced across his two spells in charge.

“I think they are the best team in the league, my personal opinion from what I have seen and to come here and obviously play them earlier in the year and not concede any goal over two games says everything about the group and says everything about the kind of preparation for the two games.

“I think so. I have watched a lot of Leeds. I think they have a real structure in the way they play but I also like the freedom that Daniel kind of gives his front half of the pitch players.”

What is going wrong for Leeds at the moment?

Clearly the pause in the season has caused Leeds to lose much of their momentum but Farke has done little to try and turn things around.

He named the same side that were beaten by Coventry City on Saturday against Sunderland last night, despite the fact so many are underperforming at the moment.

Farke then waited an age to change things from the bench even though he has some of the best squad depth in the league. Those that came on simply did not have enough time to change the game.

Leeds’ only tactic in the last four matches has been for Crysencio Summerville to try and create something. While that worked against Watford and Hull City, it has not in the last two.