Pundit Watch

Chris Sutton delivers Leeds United assessment as he issues prediction for Nottingham Forest clash

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Image for Chris Sutton delivers Leeds United assessment as he issues prediction for Nottingham Forest clash

Leeds United are a team that are simply too easy for opposition sides to get at.

That’s according to Chris Sutton, who is not expecting the Whites’ long wait for a Premier League win to end when they travel to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest at the weekend.

This is a huge game for both sides as they look to keep themselves clear of the Premier League relegation zone.

Leeds are winless in their last seven Premier League games, a run that means they start the weekend 15th in the table, just a point clear of the bottom three.

Forest meanwhile, who completed the signing of free agent striker Andre Ayew earlier this week, are two points better off in 13th, and are unbeaten in their last four in the league.

They were however, knocked out of the League Cup semi finals by Manchester United over two legs in their last two outings.

Now it seems as though Sutton believes that these two sides could cancel each other out when they head to head at the weekend.

Writing in his predictions column for BBC Sport, the former Premier League winner said: “Nottingham Forest just keep on signing players – even though the January transfer window is closed they have just brought in Andre Ayew, who was a free agent, for what is their 29th signing since they won promotion to the Premier League in May.

Those numbers are staggering and credit to Forest boss Steve Cooper for knitting a completely new team together, while continuing to add to it.

Their results have been getting better too – yes, they are out of both cups now but they are four games unbeaten in the Premier League.

That’s been enough for them to move above a Leeds side who have travelled in the opposite direction down the table but it is so close at the bottom that Jesse Marsch’s side would move back above them with a win.

“It’s been a long time since Leeds picked up three points, however, and I don’t think their wait will end this weekend. I’ve said it many times before, but it is too easy to get at them.

As a result, Sutton has predicted Sunday’s meeting between Leeds and Forest to end in a 2-2 draw.

This does feel like a game that Leeds need to be getting something from.

A productive transfer window and some positive performances in the cup competitions have provided some optimism around Elland Road, that you feel needs to be built on.

Although Forest have started to find their feet in the league recently, a long injury list, and the fact that unlike Leeds, they had to play in midweek, makes this an opportunity for Marsch’s side.

With that in mind, you feel this game could be a key turning point in Leeds’ season, either giving them momentum in the league to build on, or piling yet more pressure back onto Marsch if things don’t work out here, which could leave them in the bottom three.

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UCLan Sports Journalism graduate. Have been working for Leeds All Over since summer 2020, and can only be found writing on Football League World.