Leeds United turned in one of their toughest, most resilient performances of the campaign, earning a hard-fought 1-1 draw away at Aston Villa to stretch the gap to seven points above the relegation zone.
Up against a Villa side with Champions League ambitions, the Whites showed real character. They matched their opponents physically and tactically, refusing to be overrun, and the point they took felt valuable for more than just the league table; it underlined a growing confidence within the squad that they can steer themselves clear of trouble.
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Anton Stach put Leeds in front just after the half-hour with a superb free-kick at Villa Park, and for much of the contest it looked like that moment of quality might be enough to secure a famous win. But Tammy Abraham’s late equaliser denied them all three points.
Still, the performance spoke volumes. Leeds are showing they can compete with strong sides away from home, and they’re starting to resemble a team that will secure their Premier League status without it going down to the wire.
Aston Villa star Tammy Abraham backs Leeds United to stay up
Abraham’s late goal denied Leeds United a famous away victory over Aston Villa. However, the forward insisted that the Whites are tough to beat.
He insisted Leeds have already shown that they are a tough nut to crack, and his side had to keep going to ensure that they get something from the game.
The Aston Villa striker is certain that Leeds are going to survive in the Premier League and feels they have enough quality players, such as Dominic Calvert-Lewin, in the team who will ensure that they do not get relegated.
Abraham said on BBC Final Score, “Watching Leeds with their past few results, they have been grabbing draws and making games tough for opponents.
“So we knew what to expect, and we are happy that we didn’t end up losing the game, and we just have to keep going and keep believing in ourselves.
“100% [they are staying up]. They have a lot of quality, and players who have been here before and done it. DCL [Calvert-Lewin] is currently in good form and scoring goals, and they are creating chances for him. They definitely have the quality to stay up.”
Leeds do not resemble a side that will go down
Stach’s goal felt like it should have been enough to claim all three points, and had Leeds managed to see it out, it might well have all but secured their Premier League status for the season.
That said, with a bit of perspective, taking a point away at a Champions League-chasing Aston Villa is an excellent return for a side fighting to stay up.
It was another determined, resilient display that reinforced Leeds’ growing case for survival and showed why they’re no longer being widely tipped as one of the teams most likely to go down.
There are far more positives than negatives to take from the performance, and on this evidence, not many would be willing to bet against Leeds winning the battle to stay in the Premier League this season.