Sam Allardyce has said “the fear of relegation” should motivate his Leeds United players to “fight hard” in their bid to avoid dropping out of the Premier League.
In his first game in charge last week, Allardyce saw his new team lose 2-1 at title-chasing Manchester City and, after relegation rivals Everton and Nottingham Forest both picked up victories on Monday, Leeds find themselves second bottom of the table, two points from safety.
Allardyce – who became Leeds' third manager of the season after both Jesse Marsch and Javi Gracia were sacked during a disastrous campaign – now has three games left to prevent the dropping down to the second tier.
“What I am hoping for is good mental resilience that allows them to perform at their highest quality,” said Allardyce, who takes on former club Newcastle at Elland Road on Saturday, before facing West Ham United away and then Tottenham Hotspur at home on the final day of the season.
“The fear needs to drive them on. The fear of relegation, the fear of losing their Premier League status, which should make them hopefully fight, and fight hard for their status and their position at Leeds United. But I am very pleased with the attitude of the players.
“We have got nine points to go for. We know if we get nine points, which is a massive ask, we will stay up. If we get six we might do, or maybe if we get five.
“I don't know, but at this moment in time, I want to be still in it when we play Tottenham [in the final game of the season on 28 May]. That's what I want. I would be very satisfied if, when we play Tottenham, we are still in it.
Man City 2 Leeds 1: Player ratings
“I have said it to the players – we can't afford to lose on Saturday.”
Next up for Leeds will the high-flying Magpies, who are third in the table and looking to secure Champions League football next season for the first time since 2004.
“Newcastle have got some talented players on the front three, with more to come on,” said Allardyce, who has also managed Bolton Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers, West Ham, Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Everton and West Bromwich Albion in the English top-flight.
“They have a big goalscorer in Callum Wilson, which we have to manage, but then at the other end you can get in behind them and down the side of Newcastle if you can break through their midfield.
“It depends on our quality when we get to the final third and what we decide to do with that final ball.
“Hopefully, we can have something to go forward with because I would like us to score the first goal if we can, that is very important. Getting the first goal would be a big lift.
“I'm not saying we would win but to go a goal down would be a very difficult job, mentally, for the players to come back from.”
Allardyce's spell on Tyneside was a short one after the club was sold to British businessman Mike Ashley soon after his appointment with the new owner replacing him with local hero Kevin Keegan eight months later.
“It's a long time ago, 2007. Was I disappointed? Yes. What did it do to my career? A massive knock-back, but I always recover and move on,” Allardyce said of his reign that lasted from May 2007 to January 2008.
“In the end, I couldn't avoid a change of ownership, which was unexpected. I have no criticism of Mike Ashley, it was his club and he wanted to do what he wanted to do with it at that time.
“For me, it was a blow to my career at that time because I wanted to take Newcastle as far as I possibly could, like it is doing now. That was the ambition for me and [former chairman] Freddy Shepherd at the time, but it wasn't meant to be.”
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
THE LOWDOWN
Romeo Akbar Walter
Rating: 2/5 stars
Produced by: Dharma Productions, Azure Entertainment
Directed by: Robby Grewal
Cast: John Abraham, Mouni Roy, Jackie Shroff and Sikandar Kher
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KEY HIGHLIGHTS
Healthcare spending to double to $2.2 trillion rupees
Launched a 641billion-rupee federal health scheme
Allotted 200 billion rupees for the recapitalisation of state-run banks
Around 1.75 trillion rupees allotted for privatisation and stake sales in state-owned assets
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
SPECS
Toyota land Cruiser 2020 5.7L VXR
Engine: 5.7-litre V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 362hp
Torque: 530Nm
Price: Dh329,000 (base model 4.0L EXR Dh215,900)
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
Rory Reynolds
