Leeds United's midweek misery compounded in double relegation twist with crucial VAR involvement
Leeds United have lost ground in the fight for Premier League survival following defeat to Sunderland.
Leeds United’s six-point cushion on the Premier League relegation zone was cut in half following big results for two key rivals on Wednesday.
Daniel Farke’s side kicked off a crucial midweek round of fixtures on Tuesday but were unable to gain an early advantage, losing 1-0 at home to an injury-hit Sunderland. The Whites were left frustrated by their visitors' dark arts and a poor refereeing performance, with Habib Diarra’s penalty proving decisive.
Leeds therefore remained six points clear of 18th-placed West Ham heading into Wednesday evening, with the Hammers due at in-form Fulham. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side gave themselves a major boost, however, winning 1-0 with a familiar face on the scoresheet.
Former Whites winger Crysencio Summerville scored his seventh goal in 10 games to give West Ham the lead midway through the second-half, capitalising on a calamitous error from Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno. The Hammers also saw a penalty against them overturned by VAR, with Fulham struggling in the absence of talisman Harry Wilson.
“We always have belief,” head coach Nuno said of the win. “What we need is improvement. We’ve been more resilient, more organised. We’ve been able to, in our defensive organisation, be strong enough to allow our front players to press.”
That result looked set to lift West Ham out of the bottom three for the first time in months, but for another big result in the relegation scrap. Despite twice going behind at title contenders Manchester City, 17th-placed Nottingham Forest scrapped to earn a 2-2 draw at the Etihad.
Forest escape Man City penalty claims to gain point on Leeds United
Antoine Semenyo and Rodri twice put City ahead but they were cancelled out by Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson, respectively, the final goal coming in minute 76. Shortly before that second leveller, Forest also escaped a penalty against them when Matz Sels collided with Erling Haaland and VAR opted not to intervene.
"I am very positive, I believe a lot in the quality of the players,” Forest boss Vitor Pereira said after the draw. “I believe with a little bit of time, I hope next week, we can increase our level. They have quality, we are organised, and I believe with this spirit we have the conditions to get points everywhere.”
That point kept West Ham in the relegation zone but provided another potential blow for Leeds, who are now just three points clear of the Hammers in 18th. Forest are also three points back, with both currently having an inferior goal difference to Leeds.
The immediate pressure is now on Tottenham Hotspur, who currently sit a point above the pair below them and two shy of Leeds in 15th. Igor Tudor’s side host Crystal Palace at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this evening with the chance to climb above the Whites with victory.
“Everyone understands the situation, but we are working hard to change this otherwise there is something wrong if you don’t understand,” Tudor admitted ahead of that game. “Of course my job is to put the pressure away, but their job is also to accept this pressure as part of the job.
“Pressure is everywhere, but you need to love this job, you need to enjoy this job like you did when you start at 10-years-old to do this sport, so you don’t need to forget that this in the end only sport. Real pressures are other jobs.”