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Hay: Leeds will not get promoted like this

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Phil Hay has claimed that Leeds United will not get promoted if they continue to perform how they are at the moment. 

Marcelo Bielsa’s men dropped two points on Saturday lunchtime after drawing 1-1 against Derby County, despite dominating that game and leading in the 90th minute.

And Hay is of the opinion that United cannot afford to be so lacklustre in the future.

Writing in a Q&A for the Athletic, he said: “They won’t get promoted if his trend persists for any period of time.

“But from listening to Bielsa speak, I think he trusts this system to work for him over the longer term.”

Is Hay’s prediction correct?

At the moment, things are feeling eerily and worryingly familiar for Leeds.

Bright performances and domineering opening exchanges are slowly giving way to sloppiness and nervy conclusions, and that will fill many fans with a familiar sense of dread.

On Saturday, for instance, Leeds had 13 shots to Derby’s four, as well as 63% possession, as per the BBC, but were undone by the Rams’ only shot on target.

This draw had more than a pinch of the 1-0 defeat to Swansea City at the end of August, when United recorded 21 shots to the visitors’ seven, as well as having 62% possession, as per the BBC, but still lost to a last-minute Wayne Routledge goal.

Simply put, sides hoping to win automatic promotion cannot afford to drop points in matches that they have dominated, but Leeds are doing just that at the moment.

That pattern is one that United will be desperate not to repeat after the collapse that cost them promotion last year.

When they lost 3-2 to Ipswich Town in the final game of last season, they had 27 shots to the Tractor Boys’ six [BBC], and when they were beaten by ten-man Wigan Athletic in April, they had a mammoth 36 shots and 77% possession [BBC].

That trend, wracking up efforts but not wrapping things up, cannot continue of they have any intention of winning the league, and Bielsa will know that better than anybody.

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