Premier League Nottingham Forest and Leeds United could be forced into a historic relegation play-off if an unlikely scenario plays out
Tottenham Hotspur’s relegation rivals Nottingham Forest and Leeds United could be forced into a relegation play-off, should an improbable sequence of events unfold. Both clubs currently find themselves outside the bottom three, yet will undoubtedly be casting nervous glances over their shoulders between now and the season’s conclusion.
There exists a scenario in which a play-off fixture would be required to determine which of the two teams faces the drop, with Tottenham claiming safety. Were it to occur, it would represent the first occasion in Premier League history that such a match has ever taken place.
This unlikely play-off would be triggered if both clubs finish level on points, goal difference and total goals scored. If parity remains across all three criteria, it would then fall to the head-to-head record between the two sides, and ultimately, the most away goals accumulated in those meetings.
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The two fixtures between Forest and Leeds this season both ended up 3-1 victories for the home side. Consequently, both the head-to-head record and away goals tally would offer no resolution.
Should it indeed come down to the head-to-head record, the only means of separating the two clubs would be a one-off play-off match contested at a neutral ground.
The victors of that encounter would retain their Premier League status, while the defeated side would be condemned to the Championship.
While the prospect remains highly unlikely, it cannot be entirely ruled out. Both clubs currently occupy 15th and 16th positions in the Premier League standings, with Leeds (36 points) sitting three points clear of Forest (33 points).
Each team would need to be leapfrogged by 18th-placed Tottenham (30 points) and 17th-placed West Ham (32 points). Just two goals separate the goal difference between the pair, while Leeds have found the net 49 times compared to Forest’s 44.
The Whites return to action on Saturday when they welcome Wolves to Elland Road – and they made the most positive of starts by taking an early two-goal lead inside just 20 minutes.
Forest, by contrast, entertain Burnley at the City Ground on Sunday afternoon.
Both outfits will enter their fixtures in buoyant mood, with Leeds having emerged as 2-1 victors over Manchester United on Monday evening.
Forest, meanwhile, progressed to the Europa League semi-finals on Thursday courtesy of a 1-0 triumph against Porto.
Tottenham, in the meantime, face Brighton and Hove Albion at home in the 5.30pm fixture on Saturday. West Ham make the trip to take on Crystal Palace on Monday evening (8pm kick-off).
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