'No one likes us, we don't care' - Stuart Dallas reflects on mentality in 'spurred on' Leeds United camp ahead of Fulham test

Leeds blew the opportunity to move ten points clear in the Championship's automatic promotion places upon last weekend's return to action at Cardiff City which came a day after third-placed Fulham had suffered a 2-0 reverse against fourth-placed Brentford at Craven Cottage.

United's 2-0 in South Wales meant the gap to the Cottagers stayed at seven points ahead of this coming Saturday's promotion crunch clash against Fulham at Elland Road.

Dallas admits a victory for Scott Parker's side would blow the automatic promotion race wide open in slashing a gap that might have been 13 points with two Whites victories down to four.

The Northern Ireland international also knows there would be plenty who would take glee from another United slide.

Leeds looked destined to finally end their 15-year exile from the Premier League last season when spending the majority of the season in the automatic promotion places only to fall away in the final month and finish third.

Defeat in the play-offs semi-finals to Derby County then followed and if Leeds are defeated by Fulham there will be those who think it might be happening again.

Dallas, though, while quietly optimistic of defeating the Cottagers, says the Fulham clash is not the be all and end all in United's promotion quest and moreover the 29-year-old says his side are only left even more motivated by those hoping his men fail.

“Obviously at the start of the year, we set out to get promoted,” said Dallas, speaking to talkSport.

“That’s what you want to do.

“But we’ve got a lot of winners in our team and, from a personal point of view, I would love to win the league of course.

“But we can’t look that far ahead, there are still eight games to go and there are still a lot of points to play for and we know how tough it is going to be.

“Nothing is going to be handed to us; everybody wants to see Leeds United fail! That’s the way it is and we know that.

“We know the pressure that comes along with it, but we have got to relish it and we've got to embrace it and that starts again this Saturday.”

Pressed on how the notion that everyone wanted to see Leeds fail made him feel, Dallas said: "I think it’s great, I love it!.

“It’s a ‘No one likes us, we don’t care’ kind of thing.

“As I said, it comes with the club we are playing for. Everybody knows how big a club Leeds is and we are there.

“We have seen it last year, we have seen the people that enjoyed us failing last year and that spurs us on.

“We’re not overconfident, it would be very silly to think that we are already there and we just have got to keep working hard and keep believing in what we are doing.

“We’ve worked really hard – as has every team over the lockdown period – and we certainly didn’t start the way we wanted to start, but we can put it right this Saturday.”

Leeds and Fulham both fluffed their lines over the opening weekend and the second weekend back after the Championship's 15-week pause due to the coronavirus pandemic will now see the top four lock horns with each other.

West Brom - who now lead the division ahead of Leeds on goal difference - will begin the weekend with a 7.45pm kick-off at fourth-placed Brentford on Friday night with the Bees now just one point behind Fulham and eight behind Leeds.

Come Saturday at 3pm, United will then take on the Cottagers in their first of five home games behind closed doors between now and the end of the 2019-20 campaign.

“I love playing in front of a packed out Elland Road, the fans are that extra man at times and they have pulled us through last season and this season," said Dallas.

“Of course, it will be strange playing there in front of an empty stadium, but we are there to do a job. We know what is ahead of us and there is no bigger incentive really than getting promoted to the Premier League.

“If we can win on Saturday, we take a huge step in the right direction. But again; Saturday is not the be all and end all, no matter what the result is.

“We are confident that we can win, but we are not overconfident. We know how good Fulham are – the team they have is unbelievable – but they know coming here they will have to win as well.

“So everything is building up to be a good game. I wouldn’t say it will be a disadvantage having no fans, it is going to be strange, but we have just got to get on with it.”

“Everybody is in the same position and we are looking forward to it.”

Dallas added: "Speaking from a personal point of view, the crowd doesn't affect me and there will be players it does not bother but I know it can be an intimidating place when it's sold out and there's something to play for.

"That won't be the case this week. They (Fulham) will be coming with a point to prove after Saturday and they know if they beat is, the season is wide open again. If we can play the way we know we can, it will be a huge win."

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