David Prutton says that Leeds United should count themselves extremely lucky that their good start to the season stopped them following in the footsteps of Sunderland down to League One.

Sunderland were relegated from the Premier League last season but, in meltdown, the Black Cats have now suffered another relegation meaning they will be playing their football in England's third tier next term.




Leeds started the season well and even topped the Championship for a period, but the Whites went into a spiral once 2018 dawned and will finish the campaign in lower mid-table.

For Prutton, Leeds have their excellent start to thank for not being in the mire like Sunderland.
 


He wrote in his Yorkshire Evening Post column: "The stat that Leeds have got the same amount of points over the last 21 games as Sunderland is absolutely shocking.

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"There has been genuine anger up at Sunderland and with the greatest respects they are going to be playing in their stadium next year against the likes of Accrington and they won’t even have that top tier open.

"It’s going to be dead, it’s going to be flat and there is a hell of a job on there.

"So the warning signs are there and it’s a case of look what the other deal of the hand could have been.

"Leeds are lucky in that respect that they gave themselves a chance in the first half of the season, very lucky.

"To fall away so much, it shows the stark reality of where they are", Prutton added.

Leeds finish their season by playing host to QPR at Elland Road on Sunday and head coach Paul Heckingbottom will be keen for his men to at least sign off on the campaign with a win.