Luke Ayling on why Leeds United must fight for their lives and what's changed following Whites upturn in form

Luke Ayling believes Leeds United must fight for their lives as the Championship promotion race enters its final stages.

The Whites sit second five points ahead of third-place Fulham with 11 games of the league campaign remaining.

Marcelo Bielsa has seen his side return to form having picked up one draw and three victories in their last four outings.

That run, though, was preceded by just two wins in 10 games, a run from mid-December to mid-February which saw United's 11-point advantage in the automatic promotion places disappear.

Three clean sheets in three games for Kiko Casilla has restored faith and helped get the Whites Premier League promotion push back on track.

United defender Ayling believes that scoring first has also been key to the upturn in results - which was something Leeds had failed to do since late December before the victory over Bristol City two weeks ago.

"I think the first goal is always important in games," Ayling said.

"I think before that game we didn't score first for a very long time so I think that if we come out and start bright and get that first goal it opens a lot up for us.

"I think that's been a big thing. After that (Nottingham) Forest game it was all about starting fresh and going again. We've come out flying so it's so far so good.

"We know that there's only so many games to go so we have to come out every single game and fight for our lives. It's there for us so we have to make sure we keep this good form going."

Asked about Thomas Frank's pre-match comments before the trip to Griffin Park earlier this month where the Brentford boss said Leeds would fear his team, Ayling said: "The boys read it and saw it.

"I don't think that there's been any time in the season where we've stopped fighting and running so I don't think that can be put on us.

"We're a team that play 100 per cent every game. We saw what they said but it's only words on a piece of paper and I think it was more to motivate his own players."