Leeds United boss Sam Allardyce pre-West Ham press conference every word on Patrick Bamford, police call, Georginio Rutter assessment, new injury and survival prospects
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Leeds picked up their first point under new boss Allardyce in last weekend’s hosting of highflying Newcastle United which ended in a 2-2 draw. But time is running out for the relegation-threatened Whites who remain third-bottom and still a point adrift of safety with just two games left.
Leeds are still one point behind fourth-bottom Everton and three adrift of fifth-bottom Nottingham Forest who both play before Leeds on Saturday afternoon and evening respectively. Everton visit Wolves in a 3pm kick-off before Forest take on Arsenal at the City Ground at 5.30pm. Leeds will then lock horns with the Irons the following day in a 1.30pm start at the London Stadium.
Ahead of the game, Allardyce spoke to the media at 9am from Thorp Arch on Friday morning and here is a full transcribe of everything that was said by United’s 68-year-old boss.
West Ham v Leeds United: Sam Allardyce press conference every word
Key Events
- 9am press conference
Good morning
Sam Allardyce will be with us from 9am, all the news to follow here. How is Liam Cooper? Any other injuries? And what about Patrick Bamford’s mindset? What is the Firpo plan and, ultimately, how does Sam now see Leeds United’s chances of producing another great escape. Plenty to cover.
A draw against Newcastle last week. What did that performance tell you about where your team are at in terms of how you want them playing?
“There was obviously three disappointing factors in three different situations where we stopped ourselves winning three points and that was the penalty miss and two penalties given away. When we contained a Newcastle side that is third in the league to so few opportunities and so few chances, we really did kick ourselves in the guts by gifting them those penalties. And I think that for me, it was a bitter pill to swallow the next day when we looked at the situation and what we’d done and how much we got from the brink of a crucial three points with only two games left after this one. I’d have said we were probably 60%, 65% were we would stay up if we won that game and now we’ve got to go and win at West Ham where it wouldn’t have been essential to win at West Ham I don’t think if we would have won last week. I think a point would have been another great achievement, trying to win but making sure we didn’t lose and then going into the last game. So over that disappointment, just cut out those mistakes to the players. We’ve all got to remember that time is running out and errors will be punished in the Premier League and we have to limit those errors. Performance to stay the same and commitment to stay the same. And hopefully we can perform at a higher level to try and win the match.”