Southampton manager Russell Martin has shared the feeling he got from Leeds United supporters after watching last Friday’s 4-0 defeat at Queens Park Rangers.
Martin – who had predicted a win for Leeds pre-match – was in attendance at Loftus Road to get an early look at this weekend’s opponents with Southampton set to make the trip to Elland Road.
There is also the possibility this game on Saturday could well be a dress rehearsal for the play-off final later this month, with it not possible for them to meet in the semi-finals.
In what had been a four-horse race for two automatic promotion spots for so long, it is looking like Leeds will be joining Southampton in the disappointment of missing out.
While Leeds are not mathematically out of it, they will need to beat Southampton and hope that somehow, all but relegated Huddersfield Town can win away at Ipswich Town.
Though Ipswich’s win at Coventry City was seemingly the final nail in the coffin, Leeds were all but resigned to their fate after the dismal defeat at QPR.
Martin makes claim about Leeds fans after watching QPR defeat
Given the squads at their disposal, the expectation for both Daniel Farke and Martin was to spearhead immediate returns to the Premier League for Leeds and Southampton respectively.
It is now looking likely that one, potentially even both depending on how the play-offs go will fail to deliver that, which could therefore leave two sets of supporters very frustrated at the end of this month.
Understandably, Leeds fans reacted angrily towards the players at full-time of last Friday’s humiliation in the capital, and so a big response is needed.
Having been at Leeds’ game last week, Martin was speaking in a recent interview with the Daily Echo, where he claimed Whites fans will now have a similar feeling to that of Southampton’s right now, due to the expectations at both clubs.
He said: “I have to accept that disappointment and the expectations of this club [Southampton]. I was at that game [QPR vs Leeds]. I actually left a bit early to beat the traffic and avoid getting beaten up by some rival supporters.
“But I sense their fans felt very similar to how ours felt after the defeat to Stoke. When you manage a club like this, you have to accept those expectations. Anyone who I’ve spoken to and the majority of letters I’ve received have been positive.”
Has Farke failed if Leeds don’t get promoted?
As mentioned, Farke will have been handed a remit of guiding Leeds to an immediate return to the Premier League upon his arrival last summer.
If Leeds are unable to do so, the facts are that he has failed to deliver. It is also unlikely he will get to manage a squad with such high quality individuals for this level again.
Having said that, to be sat on 90 points with a game to spare and be all but out of the top two race shows strong the top of the division has been this season.
It will be an extremely difficult one to judge for the decision makers at the club.
