Mel Sterland hoping for resolution to only ingredient lacking in Leeds United's push for the Premier League
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Championship front-runners Leeds will finally resume their promotion quest with this Sunday's clash at Cardiff City after what will have been a 15-week pause in play due to the nation's fight against COVID-19.
Marcelo Bielsa's Whites approach the first weekend back holding a one-point advantage over second-placed West Brom but with a seven-point cushion in the division's automatic promotion spots with nine games left.
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Hide AdFulham - who will visit Leeds in their second game back next Saturday - currently lead the chase to the top two in third with Scott Parker's side then four points clear of both fourth-placed Brentford and fifth-placed Nottingham Forest.
But Sterland knows United could have been even further clear in the automatic promotion spots but for dropping points in several games which they dominated before the pause in play.
Leeds missed a host of opportunities in both the 1-0 loss at home to Wigan Athletic on February 1 and the 2-0 Elland Road reverse against Sheffield Wednesday on January 11 while Sunday's hosts Cardiff somehow got out of jail to leave LS11 with a 3-3 draw having trailed 3-0 on December 14.
Sterland, though, says there can be no grumbling with the overall picture with the 58-year-old now hoping Leeds finally seal a return to the country's top flight for the first time since 2004.
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Hide Ad"The only thing about Leeds is they can't finish teams off," former Whites right back Sterland told the YEP.
"That's the only thing that does you in as you can have 80 per cent of the game and lose 1-0.
"There have been games at Elland Road recently like that where they hadn't killed the game off and you are under pressure then as the other time are always liable to score a goal.
"But you can't complain, we are top of the league, we are doing well so let's just hope Leeds can get back to where they belong."
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