Expecting Leeds United to finish the job but Brentford capable of maximum haul - David Prutton

Wednesday night’s win for West Brom at Sheffield Wednesday gave West Brom a couple of days’ breathing space before we go again this weekend but Brentford have been terrific since the restart.

They have been an entertaining side all season and there is perhaps a freedom that they can play with due to the expectation levels being slightly different shall we say.

We know that Fulham on their day can be good but we have also seen their talisman striker Aleksandar Mitrovic being banned on the back of what happened in the Leeds game with his elbow on Ben White.

That’s something for them to contend with but Brentford are keeping Leeds and West Brom honest.

Between now and the end of the season they have got to be very wary of who is tearing up behind them and if there is to be somebody to break into the top two between now and the end of the season, then it feels like Brentford could be the ones to do it.

The Bees will have won 10 games in a row if they take maximum points between now and the end of the season and that would be a phenomenal run.

It would take some doing but it’s not completely beyond the realms of possibility at all because it’s a mini season and if they go hell for leather over these next six games as they have started then more power to them for dealing with this pressurised situation better than anyone else, potentially.

But if you are Leeds and you are not chasing down and you are the ones being chased then there are two schools of thought.

You either handle the pressure doing that and are happy to be leading the way but for Leeds, as it always has been, it’s about handling the pressure and handling the games.

You can look at Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw against Luton Town and look at stats and read it in black and white – 75 per cent of possession and 23 attempts at goal, everything that Leeds do.

But then there’s also that frustrating thing that Leeds can do which is coming away from that and looking at the stats but then saying ‘but just one point though’.

Leeds managed to put the game to bed against Fulham and they dominated again in the Cardiff game but didn’t get anything so we have had three different results and permutations of what a football match can become but Leeds have been pretty ‘Leedsy’ so far.

Pablo Hernandez is managing a hamstring problem and hamstrings are obviously muscular and not skeletal.

I never pulled a hamstring, I have had a tight one before but if you are having issues as Pablo is then there is that element where in the back of your mind you have got to make sure you remember that you have got an issue with it so you can’t go flat out.

You are thinking ‘I could run for that ball or I could sprint for that ball or track someone back or outsprint or outjump someone’ but in the back of your mind you are thinking ‘but what if I do that and it pops?’

If Pablo pulls his hamstring then he won’t play again this season so that’s the way Leeds have got to see it.

They have got to use the time wisely and you have got to nurse it.

Pablo might be nursing it between now and the end of the season but if you can get portions of games out of him rather than not at all then it’s not the perfect choice but it’s better than nothing.

It’s very self evident how important Pablo is to the side and I think we have always known that, the nuances that he brings, the delicacy, the foot of creation that he brings.

If you are a neutral it’s an absolute joy to watch and if you are a Leeds fan then you think it’s imperative that he’s on the pitch so it’s tough.

Marcelo Bielsa has got to rely on what Pablo is telling him and Pablo is old enough now to know exactly how his body can be pushed, where he can push it and what it is capable of.

It’s now a mini season off the back of a big season but while it might only be a small portion the rewards are gigantic.

For Leeds, today’s clash at Blackburn Rovers is next and Blackburn are a side who have got players who can hurt you and a manager who knows exactly how to win football matches.

He knows exactly how to get teams promoted.

He is a very experienced manager and a really decent person.

He will want the best for his players and if that has an adverse effect on Leeds then I am sure Tony Mowbray will not care less.

Leeds know that 13 points will take them up, even if Brentford do win every remaining game.

I would expect them to do it but it’s easy to sit here and say we expect them to do it, it’s just getting it done which is the biggest part of that statement.

As we have seen in the three games back, we know what they are fundamentally very good at, which is keeping the ball and moving the opposition around.

But we have also seen what has been their Achilles heel over the past couple of seasons which is not taking their chances and not putting teams to bed.

I read somewhere someone saying that if Leeds beat Luton you can put the champagne in the fridge but after the draw the champagne is probably boxed up in the garage.

It’s boxed up in the garage but it’s getting closer to the door to get it out.

If they beat Blackburn I’d tentatively open the garage door but not get it out. Just push the door ajar and just have a little look and check it’s all still there and ready to go.

Sky Bet Championship on Sky Sports, today: Derby County v Nottingham Forest – Sky Sports Main Event & Sky Sports Football noon, Bristol City v Cardiff City – Sky Sports Football 2.45pm. Tomorrow: Swansea City v Sheffield Wednesday – Sky Sports Football 1130.