Sponsored by
Lorimer: United in prime form for final push
If, as now seems likely, Leeds United are gearing up for another play-off experience, all eyes will now turn to discovering who our semi-final opponents will be.
Opinion tends to differ, but I don't hold with the idea that it is better to finish third than sixth, better to play the first leg on away soil rather than at home, or that one of the clubs involved represents an easier game than any of the others.
The play-offs are all about your own form and your own mentality – an examination of which team has the confidence, the talent and the bottle to come through an all-or-nothing scenario.
Assuming that automatic promotion is beyond Leeds, Simon Grayson's only care now will be to make sure that his side condition themselves properly during their last five matches.
On May 2, after our final home match against Northampton Town, Simon will not want to leave Elland Road celebrating the fact that the club have finished third. He will want to leave celebrating the fact that the unbeaten league run which reached 10 games on Tuesday night is still intact and has set us up perfectly to win promotion.
It is so important at this stage to be upbeat and oozing confidence. Many a promising season has been ruined by a club's failure to sustain their momentum at the death, leaving them vulnerable and short of belief in the play-offs.
We're a form team in League One at the moment, and if the play-offs began tomorrow, I'd be backing us without a second thought.
So which club would I fancy in the semi-finals? To be frank, any of the three teams who are currently in League One's play-off positions.
Of the clubs who could potentially be involved – and I still expect Leicester City to leave this league automatically, despite their stumbling results – Peterborough United look like the biggest danger, and if we can't finish second then I don't mind if they do.
It's not that I fear them or rate them more highly than Leeds, but I do believe that a semi-final against Peterborough would be nothing more than a 50-50 contest.
In comparison, we looked very impressive in our recent games against Scunthorpe United, MK Dons and Millwall, and our extra class was the difference in all three matches.
Away legs against all three would be incredibly tough, but who would fancy coming to Elland Road at the moment? It's reassuring to think that our home record is one of the best in the division, and for the last eight games we have been untouchable there.As much as I don't think the order of the semi-final games matters, I never object to seeing the second leg away from home.
As we found out in 2006 and 2008, sometimes it's good to travel to the opposition's territory knowing exactly what you need to do and how you have to play.
Our supporters will travel in massive numbers, and the effect of that backing can be huge, especially if a tie is finely balanced.
Whatever the scenario, this time around I truly believe that Leeds have shown themselves to be one of the best sides in the league and are more than capable of standing up to the demands of the play-offs.
The priority, of course, is to put our inclusion beyond doubt, and I very much hope that the Easter weekend will virtually see us home.
The pick of the two matches is Leicester away on Monday, a club I would like to see us put one over.
Up until now, Leicester have flown under the radar and avoided the attention and pressure that Leeds have carried this season.
Those roles have reversed slightly and it would be very nice to go there and stuff them. In this form, we are more than capable of doing that.
Lorro's treble
Every week Peter selects a treble based on the William Hill weekend coupon. His selections this week are: Arsenal, Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds.
Email to a friend
Print this page- Politics: Mark Hookham's Westminster blog - 5.33pm
- Castleford RSPB Fairburn Ings: High wire act Swallows’ summer parade
- Worker dies on North Yorkshire Moors Railway
- Video: Restaurant reopens on Leeds Harry Ramsden’s site after £500,000 refit
- Chocolat author will tempt guests at Leeds Big Bookend Festival
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Leeds
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
