Neil Warnock has spoken of his frustration that Leeds haven’t picked up a few more points since he arrived, but he is also showing due respect to Nottingham Forest ahead of tonight’s game.
Speaking on Yorkshire Radio, Warnock said, "It is not just the West Ham game. I think Portsmouth and Southampton were games we should have won really. Another six or seven points and we all know where we will have been. It is disappointing and it will be until we know where we finish at the end of the season. It is frustrating for me not to be closer to sixth place than what we are."
But at least the manager has the luxury of selecting from an unchanged squad for the third game running as Leeds have no new injury problems. Alex Bruce has resumed light training and Leigh Bromby is also on the mend, but neither player will make the squad tonight.
And the players are still singing Warnock’s praises, showing that there is still a good spirit in the dressing room. Paul Robinson seemed to be enjoying his loan spell at the club when he spoke to the Bradford Telegraph and Argus. “The squad are capable a top-six finish. When you make that late run, you are always favourites because you’re going forward. I believe in this group - that's why I came here. They have great ability."
While the last four games have all been against teams above us in the table, we’re about to start a run of fixture where in theory it should be easier to pick up points, but it won’t be easy against a Forest side who desperately need a result for completely different reasons after a traumatic season. No sooner had they lost in the play-offs last May than Billy Davies resigned, complaining about the lack of funds being made available by the owners of the club.
Then the disastrous reign of former England boss Steve McClaren left them mired in the relegation when he was sacked in October and replaced by Steve Cotterill, who left Portsmouth to join a club who were slightly less financially challenged. His side looked absolutely woeful when we beat them 4-0 at the end of November, but recently they have finally looked like turning the corner with three wins from the last six games pulling them up to two places above the relegation zone.
Despite Billy Davies feeling that the Forest board wasn’t providing the funds he needed, it is estimated that former chairman Nigel Doughty sank as much as £100million into the club before his death last month. Some reports suggested that his estate might try to claim some of this money back, which really would leave Forest deep in the mire.
As far as tonight is concerned, Forest could have defenders Danny Higginbotham and George Elokobi available after both missed last week's defeat by Derby with hamstring injuries, but striker Marcus Tudgay is banned after being sent off in the same game.
Fresh from correctly predicting a draw in the West Ham game on Saturday, I’m going to stick my neck out and go for a Leeds victory in this game. Even I can occasionally be right two games in a row.