Leeds United are "one of the best sides" in the Championship, says Darren Bent, but they need to sort out the "recurring theme" of their sloppy form if they are to succeed.
The Whites have taken just two points from their last three games, having previously looked near-untouchable since mid-autumn.
The healthy advantage Marcelo Bielsa's side held between themselves and the play-off chase below them has been cut with no wins over the festive period so far.
Their Boxing Day draw against Preston North End, thanks to a late Stuart Dallas equaliser, leaves them facing a potential must-win at Birmingham City on Sunday to bolster their flagging form.
Speaking during EFL on Quest , Bent, who announced his retirement from playing in the summer, admitted he felt United were the best side in the second tier last season.
However, he drew parallels between their current wobbles and the slip in form that cost them an automatic promotion berth in their previous campaign too as a major issue to address.
"I still think Leeds are one of the best sides in the division, but unfortunately we've seen this before," he said. "It's like a recurring theme.
"Last season, [they were] arguably the best team in the division and [they] don't go up.
"Again, [they've] started this season so, so well, but they're starting to stutter a little bit when it comes to key times."
Dallas's late goal at Elland Road came following mounting pressure from the hosts throughout, after a dismal start saw them slip behind to their Lancastrian rivals.
Asked if there was any luck involved in the leveller, that took a kind deflection on its way to the back of the net, Bent said: "You keep trying and you keep running the risk and you'll keep obviously prodding and poking, and eventually, you're going to get something out of the game.
"Leeds kept swinging crosses in, back and forth, back and forth. [It's a] little bit of luck, but it goes in."
