The second week of October is an early juncture for League One players to raise the subject of must-win games, but Andy Robinson believes Leeds United have arrived at such a fixture this weekend.
* Click here to watch the latest edition of the Boot Room looking ahead to the visit of Brighton.His critical assessment of tomorrow's match against Brighton and Hove Albion may sound exaggerated but, after back-to-back defeats and two performances which have baffled United's players and staff alike, Robinson is alarmed by the idea of another sub-standard result at Elland Road.
Fans' plan to buy back Thorp Arch: Click here for full story.Leeds are three places and five points behind League One's leading club Leicester City – within touching distance, in other words – but Robinson is a disciple of consistency.
And the record books will show him that 18 months have elapsed since United last suffered three successive losses, a run which culminated in a 3-2 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday at Elland Road in March 2007.
Gary McAllister intends to take a considered look at the League One table after tomorrow's meeting with Brighton – both clubs' 10th match of the season – and the portents for the months ahead are guaranteed to be promising, however well his players fair against Albion.
But he and Robinson will both feel more at ease with another victory behind them this weekend.
Leeds were beaten 2-0 by Peterborough United last Saturday, their first loss in 10 competitive matches, but more severe disappointment was created by their defeat to Rotherham United in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy on Wednesday night.
It was a match which Robinson ruefully admitted was a case of "men against boys", the latter defining him and his team-mates.
McAllister's defence failed him as four cheap concessions wasted an effective attacking display from Leeds, and Robinson believes the 4-2 defeat leaves no margin for error tomorrow.
"We move on," the former Swansea City winger said. "But what we don't want is to go one loss, two losses and then three losses. It can't be done.
"We needed the Rotherham game to come quickly (after Peterborough) and it did, but we didn't live up to our expectations.
"Now we've got look to Saturday, put this behind us and get things right. And we've got to win on Saturday – it's a must-win game, as simple as that.
"Results can change and we've had two bad results in a week, but we've got to bounce back.
The full article contains 432 words and appears in EP Leeds First & County newspaper.
