Paul Merson issues ominous Leeds United warning following Swansea City draw | OneFootball

The Sky Sports pundit didn’t pull any punches in assessing the Whites’ chances of promotion.

Leeds United were restricted to a draw against a struggling Swansea City on Saturday afternoon, and Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson is fearing the impact any more results like that could have on their automatic promotion hopes.

The 2-2 scoreline was confirmed deep into stoppage time, when Zan Vipotnik slotted a finish past Illan Meslier to earn his side a point.

The Swans began the game just six points above the dropzone, arriving after back-to-back league defeats.

Given their lofty ambitions this season, it’s a game Leeds would have expected to win at home, and Merson doesn’t believe it bodes well for the tense run-in ahead.

Sky Sports’ Paul Merson fears for Leeds United’s promotion push

The result against Swansea means that the Whites have only retained their second-place berth thanks to their superior goal difference over Burnley.

With just seven games left to play, it’s easy to see how those two teams might switch places, especially given Leeds’ recent form, which has seen them win just one of their last five, including this draw and a loss to Portsmouth.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Merson said: “As soon as it goes out your hands, you’re in big trouble.

"There’s not a lot of games to go. Win seven, they’re promoted. But one more [slip up], those games go very, very quickly.

“[It was] exactly the same last year, little meltdown. This is a huge club. When it’s a huge club it brings extra pressure. Today, I thought they’d get away with it.”

Illan Meslier embodies Leeds’ nerves

The Whites made the best of starts at Elland Road, with Brenden Aaronson providing his side the lead in the first minute of the game.

Goalkeeper Meslier began the game in similar positive fashion, denying the Swans’ Josh Tymon from the spot after Joe Rodon brought down Lewis O’Brien in the box.

But the good day was to end there for Meslier, who spilled the ball from a corner, allowing Harry Darling to notch the first equaliser.

After Willy Gnonto drove home Leeds’ second with four minutes left to play, his celebration suggested he – quite fairly – assumed it would be the winner.

However, a flimsy Whites defence in stoppage time allowed Vipotnik a one-on-one against Meslier. The Slovenian found space to squeeze it past the goalkeeper and into the far corner, but it looked like the gloveman could potentially have got a stronger hand to it.

In the most tense and important moments, both Meslier and his Leeds team-mates failed to get it over the line. As Merson suggests, they will need to guard against that becoming a theme for the run-in.

A simple-looking run-in for Leeds may present challenges

On the face of it, if you could ask for a final handful of games to confirm your Premier League place, you probably wouldn’t be far off selecting the games Leeds have left.

Aside from Middlesbrough and Bristol City – both floating just underneath the play-off places – they play none of their promotion rivals.

They also come up against Luton Town, Oxford United, Stoke City and Plymouth Argyle, a quartet that have all struggled this season. But their struggles mean they’ll face Leeds with their safety uncertain, which may not play into the hands of Leeds.

Just one win in five, with difficult results against Portsmouth and the Swans – in a similar position to many of their upcoming opponents – it will be apparent to both them and Leeds that Daniel Farke’s men can be got at.

Another result and performance like that against Swansea will only further damage Leeds’ confidence at the most crucial point of the season.