Mel Sterland hoping for resolution to only ingredient lacking in Leeds United's push for the Premier League

FORMER Whites defender Mel Sterland hopes Leeds United are not hampered by a habit of failing to finish teams off in their Premier League promotion push.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

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.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Fulham - 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.

SMASH AND GRAB: Leeds United winger Jack Harrison sees an opportunity go begging in February's 1-0 reverse at home to Wigan Athletic. Photo by George Wood/Getty Images.SMASH AND GRAB: Leeds United winger Jack Harrison sees an opportunity go begging in February's 1-0 reverse at home to Wigan Athletic. Photo by George Wood/Getty Images.
SMASH AND GRAB: Leeds United winger Jack Harrison sees an opportunity go begging in February's 1-0 reverse at home to Wigan Athletic. Photo by George Wood/Getty Images.

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.

Hide Ad
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."

A message from the Editor:

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

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.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

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

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.