Sky Sports pundit and former Scotland captain Graeme Souness believes that Leeds United must start picking up points soon with 'old-fashioned Yorkshire grit' or they could face relegation.
The Whites are currently sat in 16th, just two points above the bottom three with seven matches left ahead of this afternoon's clash with Fulham at Craven Cottage.
The 69-year-old is adamant that manager Javi Gracia must start 'keeping with the old identity' of Elland Road, something which could be a difference-maker with so little matches left in the season.
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"The approach is: ‘We can outgun everyone’. No you can’t. Not in the Premier League," Souness wrote in his column for the Daily Mail earlier this week.
"When you’ve come up from the Championship, it’s a quantum leap, not just a few rungs up the ladder. You think you’re going to take on Manchester City and Liverpool at their game. Really? It just doesn’t work, watchable though it might be.
"With Leeds, it’s still a bit like watching football in the park. They get the ball and everyone runs forward, without any sense of danger when the turnover happens. Every team need to play off the cuff to some extent, when in possession and attacking. But at the same time, individuals need to be thinking worst-case scenario if they lose the ball.
"There’s no shame in setting up the team in a more robust and conservative way. The 1970s Leeds side had Billy Bremner and John Giles — fabulous players — as well as Terry Cooper, a great attacking full back. They had Allan Clarke — a very cute player.
"Eddie Gray was a magician. Peter Lorimer got goals from anywhere in the opposition’s half. But despite all that talent, they were organised and up for every part of the game you want to challenge them in."
Ahead of their clash against Fulham on Saturday afternoon, Souness highlighted the tough fixtures the Whites still have to play, saying: "They’re two points off the relegation zone, with Newcastle United and Manchester City among their last four games, so they need to pick up points — as soon as.
"Starting with the lunchtime kick-off at Fulham on Saturday. They don’t want to reach those last few games having to win them — ridiculously compounding the pressure on themselves.
"But Leeds United and their passionate fans are a tremendous addition to the Premier League and there are many good reasons why football gains from them remaining a part of it.
"I don’t want to spoil the party, but these are days for pragmatism, common sense and good, old-fashioned Yorkshire grit."
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