Vital Leeds United: From Minus 15 to Wembley

Vital Leeds member Dobbo96 tries his hand at article writing as he gives us an early doors Wem-ber-lee preview.

After a fantastic season which started with the club at the bottom of the table on minus 15 points, this Sunday Leeds United will face Doncaster Rovers in the League 1 Playoff Final. The pressure is on the Leeds players due to 36,000 expectant fans who will be travelling to Wembley and the millions watching on Sky sports, all expecting nothing less than a win.

“I’ve mentioned it before about the handicaps at the start of the season and how they overcame things. They have done well, now we have to go on.” - Gary Mac

The Leeds manager Gary McAllister has confirmed that Jermaine Beckford is fine and is fit enough to play in the final after a short injury spell due to an ankle problem. At the same time Alan Sheehan will be back after a 3 match ban which resulted in him missing both semi-final legs against Carlisle. This meant that Brad Johnson had to move to the left back position whilst Prutton covered the left wing, this proved more effective in the second leg as the players had more time to get used to the set up. This leaves Gary Mac with the tough decision on who to play in the final as another change could further disrupt the team.

To his delight the Leeds boss has no injury worries to hinder his team selection for the final. This match will put him down in history as the first person to captain and manage Leeds Utd at Wembley stadium. Gary Mac captained Leeds Utd in the 1996 League Cup final which unfortunately ended in a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Aston Villa. No doubt Leeds fans will be hugely disappointed if that result was to replicate itself this Sunday.

Gary McAllister has been telling the players not to get carried away and that although it’s a great achievement to make it to the final, it means nothing if they don’t win it. This opinion was also voiced by ex-Scotland international ‘Dougie Freedman’ who is currently on loan at Leeds Utd:

“This is a nice achievement, but it’s not our goal yet. That is to get out of this division”

“The players have to remind themselves what they have been through to get here” – Gary Mac

Whatever the result, there will be one more Yorkshire club in the Championship next season to accompany the likes of the Sheffield duo, Barnsley and maybe Hull City depending on the outcome of the Championship Playoff final on Saturday.

As one of millions of Leeds fans all over the world, I’m sure I won’t be the only one hoping that the mighty Leeds return to the championship and continue their ascent to the Premiership.