Eddie Gray has predicted Leeds United to win when they host Brentford on Saturday afternoon to keep their play-off hopes alive.
The Whites welcome Brentford to Elland Road for a Championship fixture and both teams have aspirations of making a late charge towards the top six.
Paul Heckingbottom’s side are 11th in the league standings and have an eight-point deficit to make up.
Meanwhile, 10th-placed Brentford are just four points adrift of the play-offs and will be in good spirits after annihilating Birmingham 5-0 in their last match.
Leeds have played nine games across all competitions during 2018 and are still waiting for their first win of the year.
Gray is backing the Yorkshire giants to end their winless run and has stated they will have to pick up three points to harbour any realistic aims of reaching the play-offs this season.
“It’s an old cliche a must-win game, but if you don’t win the game on Saturday [against Brentford] I think it’s a long haul to get back into the top six,” Gray told LUTV.
“I think there will be goals in the game. It wouldn’t surprise me if we win the game 3-2.”
OPINION
Leeds simply need to win if they are to make the top six and manager Heckingbottom will be keen to get off the mark following his appointment. There has been plenty of encouragement in the last two games, which have finished as 2-2 draw, and there is no doubt they can score goals. Pierre-Michel Lasogga has finally found his feet in English football and is proving he can be a clinical finisher in the 18-yard box. Meanwhile, playmaker Samuel Saiz is back from suspension and he can frighten any Championship defence. Leeds do quickly need to resolve their defensive problems though and major question marks are still above the head of goalkeeper Felix Wiedwald.