Sam Allardyce says the fear of relegation should motive his Leeds United side to fight, as they prepare to host Newcastle United on Saturday.
With three matches remaining, Leeds sit 19th in the Premier League table, two points from safety.
“The fear of relegation and the fear of losing Premier League status should make them fight and want to fight for their Premier League status.”
Leeds’ final two matches see them travel to face West Ham next week before hosting Tottenham Hotspur on the final day of the season and Allardyce admitted he would be pleased just to have a chance of staying up on the final day.
“We have nine points to go for [and] I would be very satisfied if we were still in it when we take on Tottenham,” he said.
Eddie Howe’s Magpies are the visitors to Elland Road for Allardyce’s first home game since taking charge last week.
Newcastle are third in the table and pushing for Champions League qualification, something Allardyce had ambitions of overseeing during his time in charge of the club.
Read Also:
Yomi Fabiyi Calls For The Arrest Of Comedian, Princess, Pens Open Letter To Lagos State Governor
Singer Falz Calls For Prayers As He Undergoes Surgery (Video)
Football: Inter beat rivals Milan to control of Champions League semi-final
“Was I disappointed? Yes,” he said, referring to being dismissed at Newcastle in 2008.
“[It was a] massive knockback but I always recover and move on.
“It was a blow to my career at that point in time and I wanted to take [the club] to where it is now. That was the ambition of me and [previous owner] Freddie Shepherd at the time.”
Good omens for Leeds and Allardyce
Since Allardyce’s departure from Newcastle, he has managed five different sides against the Magpies.
His 13 wins against the North East side are more than against any other club in his managerial career and in his last five fixtures against the Magpies – with three different clubs – he has won three times and drawn twice.