David Prutton has hailed Leeds United talisman Pontus Jansson for helping to whip Elland Road into a frenzy ahead of the big kick-off against Sheffield United.
The former Leeds midfielder and Sky Sports pundit is expecting the stadium to be rocking for the 12.30pm Yorkshire derby showdown between the automatic promotion rivals.
“With Pontus Jansson asking fans to get there an hour before kick-off, the atmosphere will be amazing and Leeds have got to feed off that,” Prutton told the Yorkshire Evening Post.
“If you look back at the Norwich game at Elland Road, that was a strange game all round but when you talk about big atmospheres like this one it is something that the players have got to deal with and something they have got to handle.
“As fiery as it is, it is much better playing in front of a lot of people than a few people. If Leeds do take that step back into the top flight then this is the sort of crowd they are going to be playing in front of every week so they have to get used to it and thrive off it.”
OPINION
Whatever happens in the mouthwatering Elland Road clash between the Championship’s second and third placed clubs, one thing is certain: the atmosphere will be incredible. Even without Jansson’s social media call to arms in the wake of the midweek triumph against Reading, the famous stadium would have been a cauldron of noise and passion. But the Swedish centre-back has surely added a few decibels by urging supporters to get Elland Road rocking an hour before kick-off. Even during the many dark days of the last decade-and-a-half there have been plenty of reminders that the Leeds ground is one of the most atmospheric and febrile on the UK football circuit. Today’s top-of-the-table clash should provide some ear-splitting further evidence of that on what promises to be a memorable occasion, whatever the outcome of the match that means so much to supporters.