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Leeds United: Andy Robinson says Albion game is a must-win
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.
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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.
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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."It's an ideal opportunity against Brighton to do it in front of our own fans and to give something back to them."
Beyond their immediate need, Leeds have good reason to believe that they are due a win over Brighton at Elland Road.
United have drawn their last three home meetings with Albion, including a goalless stalemate towards the end of last season, and their most recent victory over Brighton in Yorkshire came in 1989.
The south-coast club have changed managers in the six months since their last visit to Elland Road, dispensing with Dean Wilkins and calling on Micky Adams, the former Leeds United defender who won Brighton the third division title in 2001.
Under Wilkins, the club did not fall far short of League One's play-off zone during the 2007-08 season, but the recall of an old favourite seemed to be a popular move. Adams is one coach who McAllister will expect to make a mark on the division this season.
Leeds already hold a six-point advantage over Albion, who are still to record their first home win in the league, and McAllister is likely to revert to the majority of the players who featured against Peterborough when he selects his line-up after seeing several of his alternatives fluff their lines at Rotherham.
Robinson – one of the players who can expect to retain his place – gave an uncensored assessment of United's 4-2 defeat at Don Valley Stadium, saying: "It was men against boys out there.
"That's how it felt to me and it's an honest opinion. We didn't put our foot in enough and we tip-toed around a bit too much.
"When we were looking at them in the tunnel (before kick-off), they seemed like a big side and the game proved that. But you can't defend like we did and expect to win games. It doesn't matter who the opposition are.
"Goals changes games and we got punished for bad defending. I hope we learn a big lesson about that because we can't conceded stupid goals.
"I've been to the final (of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy) and it's a great day out. We were looking to get there. But we've been knocked out because we didn't compete enough against Rotherham."
Brighton will be no more accommodating than Rotherham were if United's momentary malaise continues tomorrow – Adams' team are unbeaten away from home – and their manager added fire to his midfield last week by signing Robbie Savage on loan from Derby County.
The Welsh international will expect unwelcoming treatment from the home crowd at Elland Road tomorrow, a reaction he has grown accustomed to, but his arrival at the Withdean Stadium was a coup for the Seagulls.
Adams and Savage worked together at Leicester City and though the latter has never been the recipient of excessive popularity, he is a player whose stock stands higher than the levels required for League One.
"I've played against him once or twice in friendlies for Swansea," said Robinson. "I think he'll be one for the fans to give a bit of stick to – he's that type of player – but he's done well for himself."
Brighton's major injury concern, meanwhile, is a potential bonus for Leeds, with Albion's leading scorer Glenn Murray said to be "touch and go" for tomorrow's game.
The former Rochdale striker, whose tally for the season stands at six, has been receiving treatment on a thigh strain this week and did not play in Brighton's victory over Leyton Orient in the second round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy southern section on Tuesday night.
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Weather for Leeds
Sunday 12 February 2012
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