Take a strong lead

Nicholas: committment was key

If they added two or three more players they wouldn't be a million miles away from the (Championship) play-offs.

Charlie Nicholas
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Leeds have a realistic chance of reaching the Championship play-offs next season if they add up to three high-quality players to their squad, according to Charlie Nicholas.

Simon Grayson's side, who missed out in the play-offs for the last two seasons, won automatic promotion from League One courtesy of a 2-1 home victory over Bristol Rovers.

They did it the hard way - coming from behind after Max Gradel had been sent off for violent conduct - but Nicholas told Soccer Saturday that if owner Ken Bates is prepared to aim high, Leeds can be a real threat in the Championship.

"Ken Bates is a simple, honest man," said Nicholas. "He gives you whatever his opinion is.

"Now they have achieved promotion I think Ken Bates will have to say to himself 'how far do you want to go? Are you prepared to be a bit more ambitious?'

"He has been an ambitious man in the past but I think Leeds' fans demands will increase in the summer.

"If Jermaine Beckford was to go you lose 30 goals - or I think he'd be round about 20 in the Championship, anyway.

"Looking at the rest of the players there are some half-decent players there, they are very committed players but I don't think there are any standout players in terms of real quality. I think they would need to add a little bit more quality.

"If they added two or three more players they wouldn't be a million miles away from the (Championship) play-offs."

Passionate

Tension was high at Elland Road after Darryl Duffy put Rovers ahead on 48 minutes and it took goals from Jonathan Howson and Beckford to pip Millwall to promotion by a single point.

"It was awkward after they went behind - they looked nervy, which is understandable," reflected Nicholas. "Leeds has got such a passionate crowd and history.

"I think because they've been out of a decent level of football for so long, the fans don't know where to vent their anger. You'd think they would have learned over the years but they haven't. They just drive them forward, drive them forward.

"I must compliment Bristol Rovers because they passed and probed and didn't just turn over and Darryl Duffy put them 1-0 up after an initial onslaught for Leeds and you did think that it was going to be really, really tough for them.

"But to be fair to them Simon Grayson threw on the substitute Howson, a young lad, and it was a sweet goal - bending one in under a little bit of pressure.

"Four minutes later Beckford struck his 31st goal of the season. He's not everybody's cup of tea because he put his transfer request in.

"There were no takers for him and they decided to play him today and he got probably the most valuable goal of his Leeds career.

"Whether he'll still be there next season I don't know but you are jumping a big division and they need their better players to stay.

"They look as though they've got some good young players and a good work ethic and that passion Leeds always give you but they've got to find a bit of quality because at times today they were really, really nervy.

"I'm not saying they got lucky because Bristol Rovers gave them a few scares but it was hard work."

Learn

A relieved Gradel joined in the post-match celebrations in enthusiastic fashion following the final whistle but Nicholas said he should be thankful he didn't cost his side three points.

"He looks as though he stamps on the lad (Daniel) Jones. I don't know for what reason but Jones goes down and he looks as though he is holding his face. I think that infuriated everybody and probably infuriated the young lad himself. But the deal was done.

"The assistant decided to tell the referee that he'd seen enough, that it merited a red card. You cannot change the issue. He kept going to the ref and it took three of four players to calm him down. They were grabbing him and pushing him away.

"He's a young man, he's got to learn because he completely lost the plot."