A young Pablo Hernandez and a hard-working striker perfect for Leeds United under Marcelo Bielsa - David Prutton

FULHAM ultimately sealed the Championship’s third and final promotion spot along with Leeds United and West Brom after overcoming Brentford in Tuesday night’s play-off final.
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I thought Brentford were fantastic over the course of the season and a joy to watch.

But we cannot discount what Fulham have done.

When they were at their best they were dominant in possession, patient in their approach and in Aleksandar Mitrovic boasted a genuine marksman of real quality.

CLASS ACTS: Brentford duo Ollie Watkins, left, and Said Benrahma, after the Bees' victory at home to Swansea City in the play-offs semi-finals. Picture by John Walton/PA Wire.CLASS ACTS: Brentford duo Ollie Watkins, left, and Said Benrahma, after the Bees' victory at home to Swansea City in the play-offs semi-finals. Picture by John Walton/PA Wire.
CLASS ACTS: Brentford duo Ollie Watkins, left, and Said Benrahma, after the Bees' victory at home to Swansea City in the play-offs semi-finals. Picture by John Walton/PA Wire.
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For all his influence, Scott Parker’s side still proved they could play without him.

When it came to turning up at Wembley we saw a team that knew its surroundings, were comfortable in its position as the slightly bigger team and turned up and did the business. It’s hard to begrudge them.

The Brentford story was a wonderful story and what Bees boss Thomas Frank has done with that side and those players is a shining beacon that people should take note of and it’s the same with the recruitment and the way that club is run.

But Fulham did what we know Fulham can do with the players they have got.

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Part of them would have been gutted to have missed out on automatic promotion but if there was a straightforward way of getting through the play-offs then that was it.

Brentford’s star players will now clearly attract interest from sides in the Premier League - including Leeds - with Ollie Watkins and Said Benrahma being the two main ones and there is talk of Ollie Watkins having an £18m buyout clause.

Along with Mitrovic, Watkins was the Championship’s joint top scorer with 26 goals.

Yes, £18m is a lot of money but it’s not extortionate for a kid who has proved himself to be a decent goalscorer in the second tier.

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As you would say with everything like that, it would be a bit of a punt but you get the feeling that with Benrahma and with Watkins, if they were players that Leeds were after then I think the two of them would be extremely decent acquisitions.

I have seen them both up close and personal and seen their approach to their profession and we know that Marcelo likes silky players, skilful players.

But we also know that he likes people who absolutely work their tails off.

It would maybe not be the stellar name route to go down but Benrahma and Watkins are names that are known enough in English football and both are robust enough to play in English football and would relish a crack at the Premier League.

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If you had to pick between the two and have one or the other then if you look at his goals, from a striking point of view, you would say Watkins.

But I think Said is a slightly more younger, dynamic version of Pablo Hernandez.

That’s a pretty easy comparison to make because of the positions that both of the players play in.

Said is afforded a degree of freedom in the Brentford side.

I don’t mean indulged so he goes wandering about but indulged in the sense where he can go and create stuff.

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And I think that is how a Leeds fan would look at it. They would probably say we have got a striker who helped get us promoted but got nowhere near 26 goals this season.

But then also you have got to look at the history of the player because prior to Watkins taking up the reins as a centre forward he was a winger.

He was not peripheral but it was Neal Maupay whom Brentford were looking at for the goals.

So I think what Watkins has done is testament to his approach as a footballer at Exeter and Brentford.

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I remember speaking to a coach at Exeter who was glowing about Watkins, really glowing, about not only the player that he was but the lad he was too and his attitude to the job which I thought was a glowing reference.

Having met him and spoken to him, he has a genuine love for the game and a genuine want to do better and at 24 he is also a nice age coming off the back of a very good season to go and attack the Premier League if it was with a club like Leeds.

You can imagine there will be a big queue for Watkins who would then be able to pick the best club for him and best terms.

From Ollie’s point of view as the player, he has to make sure he is making hay while the sun shines.

He has absolutely got to do that.

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But should such a situation present itself, I don’t think Leeds can be held to ransom by any stretch of the imagination.

We have spoken about this glorious squad of players that have got the club back into the Premier League and they deserve a crack at it.

But Leeds also need to tool up to ensure they don’t come whimpering back down again.

There is a fine line between making sure you are as strong as possible but also making sure that the ethos of the team remains in tact.

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Thank you Laura Collins

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