Throughout the 21/22 season, Leeds have never truly been able to leave relegation danger behind them. There have been several occasions where they looked to be pulling away, only to drop points and tumble back towards danger.
This weekend provides them with another opportunity for them to put an almost insurmountable gap between the Whites and the bottom three as they travel to Vicarage Road to face Watford.
If the two teams respective records are anything to go by, the game is unlikely to end in a 0-0. In fact, both teams are likely to score, given that Watford and Leeds are joint worst in the league when it comes to keeping clean sheets. Both have only kept three in the whole season.
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During Marsch's short time at Leeds, the Whites have looked improved defensively but still conceded three times against Aston Villa and twice against Wolves. Meanwhile, they were unable to keep clean sheets in the games against Leicester, Norwich and Southampton, when they conceded once each.
Roy Hodgson has been in charge of Watford from late January and he has brought some defensive improvements, as expected of a manager with such experience at the bottom end of the Premier League. The Hornets have kept two clean sheets during his seven fixtures in charge. However, they have still averaged 1.14 goals conceded per game during his tenure. This is an improved on Leeds' own record of 1.6.
However, Leeds may feel this is an opportunity of their own to pick up a clean sheet as Watford's defensive record may have improved under Hodgson but is has come at a price. The Hertfordshire side are only scoring 0.7 goals per game under the 74-year-old and Leeds will hope that they can keep Watford out as they did at Elland Road back in October.
Either way, should Leeds fall behind in this game, they should be encouraged that they will have opportunities to get back into the game, given how few clean sheets their opponents have accrued. Leeds fans will be hoping to see their team finally take one of these opportunities to strike the critical blow in the relegation battle. Watford away - with their defensive record - might just be the best opportunity they'll get.
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