Leeds United’s margin for error in the Premier League survival race has narrowed significantly after this week’s results pulled them closer to the relegation zone.
West Ham’s victory over Fulham and Nottingham Forest’s draw with Manchester City on Wednesday night have tightened the battle at the bottom of the table.
Leeds did little to help their own cause either, suffering a controversial home defeat to Sunderland on Tuesday. That loss leaves them just three points above the drop zone with nine games remaining this season.
However, Tottenham touched new depths with a 3-1 home loss to Crystal Palace on Thursday night, and there is likely more turmoil at Spurs, which will work in Leeds’ favour.
Calls to sack Igor Tudor at Tottenham are growing
Tottenham appointed Igor Tudor as the interim boss last month, following the dismissal of Thomas Frank, but he has lost his opening three league games.
Spurs are just a point from the relegation zone and are on a winless run of 11 games, their worst run of league form in more than 50 years.
Former Tottenham star Jamie O’Hara has slammed the interim Spurs manager and insisted that the club must get rid of him as soon as possible.
He stressed that Tudor has looked clueless and has been an embarrassment since he took charge of the north London club last month.
O’Hara said on talkSPORT: “Igor Tudor has got to go, by the way, get rid of him, sack him, charlatan, get him out of the football club right now.
“Get him out of this football club, he’s absolutely clueless.
“I could do a better job; it’s an embarrassment.”
Tottenham’s instability is Leeds’ boon
Leeds have now lost back-to-back Premier League games for the first time since November, and the results elsewhere this week have only increased the pressure on them.
Even so, Daniel Farke’s side can feel genuinely aggrieved about how those defeats unfolded, with both games heavily influenced by controversial refereeing decisions.
Over the course of the season, Leeds have arguably looked more organised and competitive than Tottenham, despite spending only a fraction of what the north London club invested in building their squad.
| Pos | Club | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 |  Leeds United |
29 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 37 | 48 | -11 | 31 |
| 16 |  Tottenham Hotspur |
29 | 7 | 8 | 14 | 39 | 46 | -7 | 29 |
| 17 |  Nottingham Forest |
29 | 7 | 7 | 15 | 28 | 43 | -15 | 28 |
| 18 |  West Ham United |
29 | 7 | 7 | 15 | 35 | 54 | -19 | 28 |
| 19 |  Burnley |
29 | 4 | 7 | 18 | 32 | 58 | -26 | 19 |
| 20 |  Wolverhampton Wanderers |
30 | 3 | 7 | 20 | 22 | 52 | -30 | 16 |
At the moment, West Ham and Nottingham Forest look like the more immediate threats to Leeds’ survival hopes. Tottenham, meanwhile, appear to be in the middle of a worrying slump.
In fact, if Spurs decide to change managers yet again, it could turn into a major boost for Leeds. A managerial switch often brings a period of instability, and with only 10 games left in the season, Spurs could further spiral to hand the advantage to the Yorkshire giants.
Leeds could also inflict further pain on Tottenham when the two sides meet in north London towards the end of the season.
