Scott Parker outlines potential impact of Leeds United hosting Fulham with no crowd

The automatic promotion crunch clash will be both sides' second game back after the 15-week pause to the season due to the coronavirus pandemic with all remaining games being played behind closed doors.

United will be 'cheered on' in spirit by over 15,000 crowdies - life-size cut outs of Leeds fans - but Parker says there are arguments to be made over whether the lack of a crowd could be seen as a positive or negative for both sides.

“There’s no hiding that Elland Road, with the Leeds fans and the intensity they build, they have a fantastic support,” Parker stated.

“It’s always a very hostile and difficult place to go. With no fans, that could have a positive effect.

“Saying that, I also believe that there are a lot of players who thrive off that intensity.

"It could work both ways.

“Leeds players would obviously want their fans behind them, like we wanted our fans behind us at the weekend, but on the flip side of that, the hostility of a stadium sometimes when you’re away from home is something that brings a siege mentality to a team.

“It could be a positive or it could be a negative, we’ll just have to wait and see.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. These are challenging times but the team at the Yorkshire Evening Post need your support more than ever in the weeks ahead.

While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you. In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you - wherever possible and providing it is safe for you to do so - to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Inevitably falling advertising revenues will start to have an impact on local newspapers and the way we continue to work during this period of uncertainty.

So the support of our readers has never been more important as we try to make sure that we keep you connected with the city you live in during this time.

But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. We need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Our team of trusted reporters are working incredibly hard behind the scenes - from kitchen tables and spare bedrooms - to look at how we can do this and your continued support to the YEP will help to protect its viability in the days and weeks ahead.

For more details on our subscription offers please visit www.localsubsplus.co.uk/YEP, email [email protected] or call us on 0330 4033004

Thank you

Laura Collins

Editor

READ MORE: https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/opinion/were-therewithyou-now-your-yep-needs-your-support-too-laura-collins-yep-editor-2521777