A year ago
Sam Allardyce, the manager of relegation-threatened Leeds, claimed that Sunday's Premier League match at West Ham is "do or die" for his team.
The Yorkshire club has just two games remaining in their quest to keep their top-flight status after falling to third from last and one point from safety.
After taking over for the fired Javi Gracia with four games left, Allardyce acknowledged that Sunday's trip to the capital was essentially a "cup final."
"That's it," the former England manager stated. Do or die, boys. Fight. Fight to the bitter end, but do it with the proper demeanor, the appropriate level of restraint, and without losing it. Don't forget the game plan, either.
If Nottingham Forest and Everton defeat Arsenal and Wolves on Saturday, respectively, that would put tremendous pressure on Leeds to earn all three points at the London Stadium.
Only time will tell, according to Allardyce, if his players can handle the pressure.
"I think it is a difficult situation if you find that the teams down there picked up three points on the Saturday and it's almost a near certainty that you have to get three points to stay in the race," he said.
"So, whenever it happens and whatever the circumstance is on Sunday afternoon, we have to cope with it, accept it, and use it as motivation.
No matter what happens on Saturday, we have to produce a three-point scenario against West Ham in an effort to try and save our Premier League position, and handling the pressure that comes with that is a big question of "can you?
After a string of detrimental, crushing losses, Leeds fired Gracia, who had only succeeded Jesse Marsch in February.
In the two games played under Allardyce, a 2-1 loss at Manchester City and last week's 2-2 draw at home against Newcastle, performances have improved enough to give supporters some cause for optimism.
Allardyce claimed he could not criticize his players for their effort and has now pushed them, but he would not say whether he would remain at Elland Road after the season.
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