Liam Cooper reflects on influence of Leeds United's fans after previous tough times at Elland Road

Bumper turn-outs both at Elland Road and away from home have seen the Whites establish a seven-point cushion in the Championship's automatic promotion places with Leeds top of the division with nine games left.

United's promotion bid has currently been halted due to the global fight against coronavirus but Leeds' most recent outing via the 2-0 win at home to Huddersfield Town was watched by the club's largest home gate of the season with an attendance of 36,514.

Speaking to Leeds United's official website and asked how much of an impact the fans had on the team during a game, Cooper said United's supporters were making a huge difference with the skipper hailing the atmosphere at the Whites under chairman Andrea Radrizzani and head coach Marcelo Bielsa.

"It's massive," said Cooper.

"There's been difficult times for the club, for whatever reason things weren't working, and obviously as players, you get the brunt of that on the pitch, and it's hard to take at the time.

"But you look back now, you see it from a fans point of view, you see people paying their hard earned money to come and watch, and if it's not right on the pitch, you deserve to have your opinion.

"Since Andrea and Marcelo came in, it's been unbelievable, it's been packed out, 35-36,000.

"It does help, it's intimidating for other teams, and it really does give us that drive when you hear that noise coming from the stand.

"As a fan, you need the team to lift you, and I feel this season we've hopefully done that more times than not, and long may it continue."

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website.

These are challenging times but the team at the Yorkshire Evening Post need your support more than ever in the weeks ahead.

While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you - wherever possible and providing it is safe for you to do so - to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Inevitably falling advertising revenues will start to have an impact on local newspapers and the way we continue to work during this period of uncertainty.

So the support of our readers has never been more important as we try to make sure that we keep you connected with the city you live in during this time.

But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. We need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Our team of trusted reporters are working incredibly hard behind the scenes - from kitchen tables and spare bedrooms - to look at how we can do this and your continued support to the YEP will help to protect its viability in the days and weeks ahead.

For more details on our subscription offers please visit www.localsubsplus.co.uk/YEP, email [email protected] or call us on 0330 4033004

Thank you

Laura Collins

Editor

READ MORE: https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/opinion/were-therewithyou-now-your-yep-needs-your-support-too-laura-collins-yep-editor-2521777