The midfielder produced a searing second-half volley as Leeds completed their 46-game schedule with a 15th home win on Saturday and set up a play-off semi-final against Carlisle United.

United's victory over Gillingham lifted them to fifth in the final League One table, preventing the possibility of a two-legged Yorkshire derby with Doncaster Rovers, and Leeds will begin their semi-final with the first leg at Elland Road a week today.

The return fixture at Brunton Park – the scene of Leeds' opening league defeat of the season – will be staged on Thursday, May 15, and Johnson concurred with the opinion of his manager Gary McAllister, who described United as the "form horse".

Leeds were the only one of the teams included in the play-offs to finish their regular season with a victory, and Saturday's win was their sixth from seven games.

Johnson said: "We should be favourites to win the play-offs because we're the team in form at the moment.

"Some people think that being favourites brings extra pressure, but I don't really see it like that. Being favourites means that other people can see how well you're playing, and if I'm honest then I have to say that I really fancy our chances.

"There are other teams I rate in this league but I've said all along that when we play well, we're very difficult to beat.

"I'm not sure whether the club's been in better form all season and it's only natural for us to be quietly confident."

Southend will contest the second semi-final with Doncaster, but a Carlisle side who have won only one of their last eight games and were beaten 3-2 at Elland Road last month may be the most appetising draw for McAllister and his players.

Johnson said: "There weren't any teams I wanted to avoid but I'm happy with Carlisle.

"We deserved to beat them at Elland Road and that's going to be in their minds when they come here for the first game.

"It's a semi-final we know we can win and I can't wait for it to kick off. We're getting closer to where we want to be."

Johnson described his goal on Saturday – a sweetly-struck left-footed volley from the edge of the box – as "the best of my career".

It helped Leeds to fight back from a goal down after Gills had taken 20th-minute lead through Simeon Jackson, with an 89th-minute strike from Tresor Kandol, ensuring United's victory and confirming Gillingham's relegation from League One.

McAllister, who was planning to reintroduce Jermaine Beckford to full training today after an ankle injury, rested several of his players with the play-offs looming.

He said: "It was a good win in the end. The first half was poor, but we had a little chat at half-time and we started being better at the ugly parts of football.

"We've got two massive games coming up and looking at the three other teams that are in the play-offs, we go in as the form horse."

McAllister also offered his commiseration to Gillingham, saying: "Their manager can be very proud of his players. They gave it everything. There are no words from me that are going to console them.
"It's a horrible day."