Michael Brown has suggested that Leeds United still have a great chance of getting promoted this season.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side have to settle for a place in the play-offs after Sheffield United secured the second automatic promotion spot yesterday, but Brown believes there is no reason for despair.
Speaking on talkSPORT (April 28th, 8.40am), he said: “My message is that it’s not over, there is still a great opportunity.
“You get that feeling don’t you where they feel like they’ve failed, that the confidence is not there, but this is going to test him [Bielsa] now.
“If he can get the players back on track they’ve got chances, great chances, they’ve just got to put them away.”
OPINION
Brown is absolutely correct. It’s a really weird situation that Leeds find themselves in. Having bossed things all season they have stumbled at the vital moment and now it feels as if the momentum and confidence has slipped away. It’s amazing how much confidence plays its part in a play-off run, and going into it off the back of seem disappointing results will no doubt leave the team feeling somewhat deflated. If Bielsa can pick his lads up and dust them down, however, starting today with a win over Aston Villa, they should still be favourites to go up. The Championship operates on such fine margins, and the difference between coasting home and having your heartbroken at Wembley in May can be the difference between a draw and a win. The players will know they are good enough, but if they falter again today, it will be harder than ever to convince themselves of that.