Gary McAllister will allow the lure and the prestige of the play-off final to do his team-talk for him tonight as Leeds United's season reaches the point of no return.
The Elland Road club travel to Carlisle United this evening needing nothing less than a victory over 90 minutes to keep alive their dream of a day at Wembley and a return to the Championship.
John Ward's side hold the advantage in the League One play-off semi-final after their 2-1 victory at Elland Road in the first leg on Monday night, and a draw with Leeds in the second fixture tonight would be enough to guarantee Carlisle's place in the final a week on Sunday.
But the game at Brunton Park is the 48th fixture of United's momentous league campaign, and McAllister is counting on the size of the stakes to inspire his squad in Cumbria and ward against a repeat of the mediocre performance at Elland Road which left their campaign balanced on a knife-edge.
"We can't have any negative thoughts at all," McAllister said. "We've got to approach it very positively.
WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES AND FEARS FOR TONIGHT'S GAME? SEND AND READ YOUR MESSAGES OF SUPPORT BY CLICKING HERE."There shouldn't be any need for me to be motivating people. The motivation is there with the prize of a game at one of the best stadiums in the world. There's plenty to play for.
"It's a tough ask and it's going to be nail-biting, but we go away from home, the shackles come off and the pressure is put on Carlisle. And we can absolutely get better.
"There's going to be a presence of Leeds United fans and they'll be giving it their best, but it'll be predominantly Carlisle fans so the onus is on the home side. We've got to take advantage of that if that affects Carlisle."
McAllister, who was preparing to put Jermaine Beckford through a late fitness test today, saw his side's promotion bid seriously threatened by their ineffective display on Monday evening, but the injury-time goal produced by Leeds striker Dougie Freedman has altered the balance of a tie which Carlisle were briefly in complete control of.
"Psychologically for our players it was important," McAllister said. "I don't know how it's affected Carlisle, but for us it was a boost.
"I felt that my players gave their all and the effort was there. It was just a bit misdirected and the quality I know they've got didn't come to the fore.
"But I think it'll be different tonight and I'm looking forward to seeing five or six of my players performing better. This is it."
The full article contains 456 words and appears in EP Leeds First & County newspaper.
