Leeds United sit 15th in the Premier League table and have managed to keep a six-point cushion between themselves and the relegation zone.
Up against an Aston Villa side chasing Champions League qualification, the Whites produced a composed and resilient display in Saturday’s 1-1 draw. They matched the hosts for intensity, stayed well organised defensively and dealt with the pressure in a mature manner.
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It was a point they thoroughly deserved, important not only for the breathing space it creates in the table, but for the confidence it continues to instil within the squad.
Although Leeds conceded late and were forced to settle for a draw, the wider results over the weekend mean there are still plenty of reasons for optimism at Elland Road.
Gary Neville showed how much Leeds United have progressed this season
Neville was taking a stock of the relegation fight and the teams who are involved in the race to beat the drop at the business end of the Premier League season.
Tottenham have emerged as surprise contenders to get relegated, and Wayne Rooney has already insisted that they are not a good enough team.
Neville stressed that the north London club need to get a few results soon to get themselves out of the mess, as if they do not improve soon, Forest and West Ham will catch up with them.
“This season, they’ve got some real work to do”, he said on the Gary Neville Podcast for Sky Sports.
“And they better do it quickly, by the way, because I watch West Ham, I watch Nottingham Forest, and they’ve got something about them that you think, they’re going to pick up points.
“So it’s not going to be a case that Tottenham can just sit there and think that this is just going to happen, they’re going to have to work bloody hard to get out of this mess.”
However, what would interest the Elland Road faithful is that Leeds United’s name never really cropped up as Neville was discussing the relegation fight.
Leeds are now expected to survive
Daniel Farke’s previous record in the top flight and the recent performances of promoted teams made Leeds one of the early-season favourites to go down.
Few would have bet against Leeds not getting relegated in the first few months of the season. However, Leeds have transformed since the winter.
Premier League Bottom Six – Relegation Battle Standings
They have picked up points against Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Brentford and should have got something from their trip to Newcastle United.
Several pundits are now certain that they are going to survive, and Neville never even mentioned Leeds once as he spoke about the fight for survival.
It’s a huge credit to Farke and Leeds that they have flipped the narrative around the club in the last few months.