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Prutton: Carlisle trip holds no fear for United
David Prutton has urged his team-mates to ignore Carlisle United's intimidating home record when Leeds United go in search of a promotion-saving win at Brunton Park.
United's bid to return to the Championship 12 months after relegation is hanging on tomorrow night's visit to the most unforgiving stadium in League One after the first leg of their play-off semi-final with Carlisle ended in a 2-1 defeat.
Danny Graham and Marc Bridge-Wilkinson earned the Cumbrian club a vital victory at Elland Road on Monday evening, and Leeds' fate rests on their ability to become only the fourth League One club to win at Brunton Park this season.
Carlisle have won 17 of their 23 home fixtures and lost only three, but Dougie Freedman's goal in the sixth minute of injury-time at Elland Road has renewed United's hopes of qualifying for the play-off final at Wembley a week on Sunday.
Leeds midfielder Prutton said: "Brunton Park's a tough place to go, but Leeds United is a tough place to go as well.
"Carlisle came here and got a very good result in their eyes, and in a way I think there's a little too much made of home records.You know that if you go to a stadium and play well, you've got every chance of winning.
"You can't let records worry you and I don't think Carlisle's will have much impact on tomorrow's game.
"It's obviously good for us to have big crowds at Elland Road but that doesn't mean clubs are going to automatically fold when they come here. It's the same for us away from home.
"We can turn some of the pressure onto them, with it being a tough place to go and having a bit of a reputation. We can go there without any fear, knowing what we have to do to win. That's a very free state of mind to be in."
An attendance of more than 36,000 was seen at Elland Road, and Brunton Park is expected to hold a capacity crowd of around 16,500 for the decisive second leg tomorrow.
Prutton said: "It's not like we'll go there and defend for our lives, looking for a nil-nil.
"We've got to go there and win, and I think that focuses your mind even more.
"You can see the bottom line and you know that if you don't hit that, you'll face the consequences.
"It's a huge game which the season rests on so this is where you back yourself and show optimism.
"I'm not saying we'll be completely gung-ho but it's ours to win."
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Weather for Leeds
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
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