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Matty Hewitt

Leeds United's implosion against Crystal Palace the beginning of the end in bleak campaign

Patrick Bamford's goal after 21 minutes against Crystal Palace looked to have set Leeds United on course for survival, moving them five points clear of the bottom three heading into half-time interval. The Whites would move on to 32 points with a win over the Eagles, a match they dominated in the first.

However, Marc Guehi's equaliser on the stroke of half-time would act as a catalyst for their own implosion. Palace would thrash the Whites 5-1 at Elland Road to ensure any feel good factor after the win over Nottingham Forest would emancipate.

Seven games later, and a manager down, Leeds have picked up just two points from seven games and are staring relegation square in the face. Had Javi Gracia's side won against the Eagles, they would have jumped two points clear of their opponents and give their survival push a shot in the arm.

READ MORE: Leeds United's relegation not down to 'shoot for the stars' approach like 2004 says Simon Jordan

Leeds would have likely moved up to 12th with a win, had results stayed the same from the 21st minute. The Whites have one fewer point than they did at the time of Bamford's opener - a stark realisation of their dismal slide.

Gracia's side was thrashed by Liverpool in the following fixture to make it 11 goals conceded in just two games - halfway towards breaking their own unwanted Premier League record for goals conceded in a calendar month. Defeats at Fulham and a draw at Leicester saw the Spanish head coach left with a must win game against Bournemouth to decide his fate - another game where the Whites crumbled.

The worst defence in the Premier League was thrashed 4-1 and Gracia was sacked by the board. In came Sam Allardyce and supporters need no reminding of results since his arrival.

The Whites need a miracle this weekend when they host Tottenham to stay in the Premier League for a fourth successive season.

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