Leeds chief ready for run-in

United chairman backs Whites to hold their nerve

Last updated: 10th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Leeds chief ready for run-in

Bates: Backing Leeds to stay on track

We're as good as anybody, if not the best... We've beaten Norwich and Southampton this season, but Millwall beat us there and Swindon, who still have to come here, also beat us, so we owe them one.

Ken Bates on Leeds' promotion push
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Leeds United chairman Ken Bates is relishing the promotion run-in as his side look to cement a return to the Championship.

The Whites' 4-1 win at Tranmere has strengthened their bid to go up automatically but Bates knows the next few weeks will be vital.

Leeds showed signs of a return to their fine form from earlier in the season at Tranmere but now face games against Southampton on Saturday, a visit from Millwall on March 22, and then head to leaders Norwich City on March 27.

Those three matches could have a huge bearing on who goes up from League One and Bates knows it is going to be a nerve-jangling few weeks for manager Simon Grayson and all at Elland Road.

"Simon had said to me well before Tuesday night that we've just got to keep calm and hold our nerve, and he was right," the chairman told Yorkshire Radio.

Confidence

"Tuesday's win puts us five points clear and improves our goal difference which is worth another point.

"Brighton did us a favour on Monday when they got a result at Colchester, Swindon seem to be struggling a bit, Huddersfield have had a couple of bad results, and we should be looking forward to our remaining games with confidence.

"Every other club will have the same jitters at this stage of the season, but as Simon has always said, we're all in this together at Leeds and we will try to do it all together.

"The next few games will go some way to deciding both our fate and that of the three teams we play," said the chairman.

"We're as good as anybody, if not the best, but it takes two to tango. We've beaten Norwich and Southampton this season, but Millwall beat us there and Swindon, who still have to come here, also beat us, so we owe them one!"

Manager Grayson was also delighted to see his side get back to something like their best form at Prenton Park.

"We were composed on the ball. It's what we needed and what's been coming.

"You could sense over the past week we've been getting back to that. You can't get too carried away, we have another 11 games to go, but if we can replicate that performance we will be a handful for everyone.

"Now our focus turns to the weekend. We have three big games coming up and we know we can win them."

Comments (9)

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Glenn Townend (Leeds United fan) says...

Come on the whites!!...keep your nerve for the last few games,there are a lot of fans here in cyprus who will be cheering you on!!!

Posted 04:12 12th March 2010

Robert Barraclough (Leeds United fan) says...

agood win tuesday, now lets go on a run starting with southampton sarurday we don,t belong in this league with our supporters.come on you leeds

Posted 23:24 11th March 2010

Matt H (Leeds United fan) says...

Ken, you may have battered us on the day but you still lost i have been to 3 leeds matches in the past 2 months and we have dominated teams and come away with a point or a loss. so it has happened to us. notible at the Home game against Brentford recently. i am also aware of your games where you have been trailing all game untill the last 10 mins when you manage to nick 2 goals in the last 10mins from a friend of mine who put two past Oldham (Oli Johnson). Its been a good season every teams had there highs and lows and there sticky patches the next 11 games will be the most tense and the 4 teams fighting for the 2 Auto Promo Spots will all be abit Nervous going into the games. MOT

Posted 17:17 11th March 2010

Simon Dobson (Leeds United fan) says...

Completely agree with Ken Seager (Norwich), you out played us at ER and we didnt deserve the 3pts. One poor clearance in the dying minutes and we knicked it. Norwich are playing the best football in League 1 by far, the midfield movement is fantastic and their strikers dont need asking twice. Its all about a top two finish now, we dont do playoffs lets be honest. So i would be more than happy with runner up spot and finally getting out of this league. With all due respect to the other teams but Leeds and Norwich dont belong in league 1. Im sure there will be a few twists and turns yet but lets keep the faith.

Posted 15:15 11th March 2010

Ken Seager (Norwich City fan) says...

Ken, you are right, LU have a difficult month ahead. But so have we at Norwich. Huddersfield & Swindon away, then LU at home. But have you forgot just how lucky you were to beat us at Elland Rd? We outplayed you, and a badly hit goal kick went to Beckford, who had the simple task of putting it in the net! Yes a squeaky bum month all-round, and certainly panic has set in on the Leeds forum web sights. But remember that the gap between us (the top two) and third place is the only thing that matters. For sure the championship will be glad to see both teams and their tremendous following home at away, and the revenue they bring to that league.

Posted 13:11 11th March 2010

Mark Phillips (Leeds United fan) says...

How time as come let's fight all the way and go back to where we belong, great game on tuesday hopefully starting to find how form again, I agree how defence can be a bit sloppy. Good luck on saturday boys. Leeds fan till i die..

Posted 12:23 11th March 2010

Conor Gray (Leeds United fan) says...

We always get shaky at this point ! ...lets get it together lads and get back where we belong ............MOTG........

Posted 11:56 11th March 2010

Mark Mcgreal (Leeds United fan) says...

Tranmere was a good win for us and Saturday is when we have to capitalise on that form and we need to follow it up with 3 points against the saints. We are strong enough to go on from here and win the league but we need to keep showing that kind of form and scoring goals. 9 points from these next 3 games would be fantastic but 7 is definately good enough. Well done to the team for turning it round again after our sticky patch and I hopethey build on this and take us 1 step closer this season to where we belong amounst the big boys!!

Posted 03:09 11th March 2010

Graham Bywater (Leeds United fan) says...

It is squeeky bum time the next 3 or 4 games for Leeds. The win against Tranmere was a welcome change, but the defence has been the main problem the past month or so. They have let in sloppy goals. A few clean sheets will give the team the confidence to get promotion. So if we manage 10 points from the next 4 games i.e S'ampton, Charlton, Norwich & Swindon I think we should make it. But the defence is the main thing and for to win by the odd goal.

Posted 16:56 10th March 2010
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