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LEEDS UNITED: These are the games I want, says Macca
GARY MCaLLISTER is calling on his vivid memories of knockout football to prepare him for the tension, excitement and unpredictable drama that Leeds United are about to experience in the League One play-offs.
United's manager will put the finishing touches to his strategy for the Whites' two-legged semi-final against Carlisle today, with Leeds 24 hours away from the start of their epic contest with the Cumbrian club.
Carlisle will brave the heated and hostile atmosphere of Elland Road in the first leg tomorrow night, and both teams are preparing themselves for the packed and expectant ranks that will surround them in West Yorkshire.
The battle over 180 minutes is McAllister's first experience of the Football League play-offs, and the ex-Leeds midfielder is carrying the hopes of a city who will be represented by a crowd of around 38,000 at United's stadium.
The clubs have one victory apiece against each other this term – a fact which McAllister expects to be of little relevance during their semi-final – and he is looking instead to his experience of top-level cup competitions to provide an insight into the demands of the two matches ahead of his side.
McAllister was a member of the Liverpool squad which won the UEFA Cup, the FA Cup and the League Cup in 2001 – by far the most successful season of Gerard Houllier's managerial reign at Anfield.
McAllister said: "This is cup-tie football – home and away legs. It's 180 minutes and there's no need to panic if things go wrong early in the first game.
"It's exciting, and that's the only way I see it. These are the games which, as a player certainly, you want to be involved in.
"I've looked from the outside at play-offs over the years. I've never been involved in them but I've been involved in home-and-away football in the UEFA Cup, and I always looked on it as exciting. It'll be even more exciting if we come out victorious.
"I look to the experiences I had under Gerard Houllier, the fantastic cup runs and winning the UEFA Cup.
"We've got Steve Staunton (United's assistant manager) who's progressed in things like this as well so we've got plenty of experience.
"The key is to keep going. Anything can happen in these games. You've got to stay focused and concentrated, and you'll be punished for any little lapse.
"With the importance around these games, you look to make sure that all the fine details are taken care of before you go into them.
"Because of how vast the games are, things have got to be done differently. You make doubly sure that you're on top of every little aspect."
McAllister valued the effect of nervous tension during his playing career, believing that the twinge of apprehension brought a positive reaction from him, and he expects his squad to benefit from the flood of adrenaline which hits them before kick-off tomorrow night.
Carlisle were beaten at Elland Road last month but only after a performance which impressed McAllister, and his review of Leeds' 3-1 loss at Brunton Park in November – United's first league defeat of the season, under Dennis Wise – gave him a further insight into the Cumbrians' potential.
The Elland Road boss has also been able to examine the knowledge of first-team coach Neil McDonald, who was Carlisle's manager until August, and Leeds are unlikely to be caught by surprise when John Ward reveals his line-up tomorrow night.
McAllister said: "We've got loads of respect for Carlisle.
"They've been fantastic over the last three or four years and a lot's been achieved there. We'll be wary.
"They've stumbled a little bit in recent games and we're on a good run, but strange things happen in the play-offs. Form sometimes goes out of the window.
"Of course it will be tense and nervous, and it's who can deal with it that counts.
"I'd be disappointed if the players weren't tense or nervous because it's the thing you need when you go into these games.
"Butterflies and a bit of nervousness is good. So is the adrenaline – just as long as you use it to your advantage rather than allowing it to affect you.
"Neil (McDonald) worked up close with the Carlisle lads so we know a wee bit more about the psyche of their players than our other opponents.
"It's going to be close and it's going to be tight. We've got to remain positive and go for it.
"But my players are very much aware that they've won 27 games.
"It's not a bad tally for the season and they've got every right to go into the play-offs with confidence."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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