What is more important at this stage, a win or a good performance? I say on this occasion a win - something we haven't had for 8 games - is what we need just to give the boys some confidence before the play offs.

It looks like Steve Stone is going to be ready for the play offs after all barring any injury recurrence, which will give us more options tactically. I expect him to start today as I think will Eirik Bakke, who is getting back to some sort of form and could be a vital player in the play offs.


The main thing today is that we avoid injuries to key players and the best way to do that is to not play any key men other than those who need the matches like Bakke and Stone. I think KB may keep the likes of Hulse and Derry out of today’s game meaning Simon Walton should get a start alongside Bakke in midfield.


We have not beaten the already relegated opposition in 3 attempts since relegation but we could not have wished for better opponents at this stage of the season. Already relegated, likely to experiment and not a team of cloggers.


Eddie Lewis needs a run out after being rested recently as does Robbie Blake after recovering from the mystery virus but the exact line up is anybody's guess.


No injuries and 3 points would be ideal before next week's final game against possible play off rivals Preston who definitely fancy themselves at the moment.

Next week's team selection should be even more interesting than this week's, though personally I would send out a reserve team and kick the shit out of them but more on that later in the week.


I think we will win today but contrary to what a lot of people think I do not think it is vital to finish 3rd or 4th and get home advantage in the second leg of the play offs. We often get better vocal support away from home and we have not lost away from home to any of our rivals all season.


Prediction: Leeds 3 v Crewe 1


Come on you Whites!!!!!

Not the place we would have chosen to be at this moment in time but probably the perfect match as we build up towards the play offs.


KB was able to pick the same 11 that performed well against Reading but this turned out to be a completely different sort of game, a genuine derby with plenty of dodgy tackles mainly by us.


The Whites started off well but were unfortunate to go behind after just 10 minutes when Bakke headed into his own goal whilst trying to clear a corner. We lost the plot a bit after that with both Crainey and Kelly being booked. We then had a clear shout for a penalty waved away - a few months ago if one of our players broke a nail in the opposition box a penalty was awarded.
Just before the break we got the goal we deserved through David Healy, a brilliant effort from 20 yards, 1-1 and the first half action did not end there as daft twat Warnock got himself sent off for doing what he does best, being a gobshite.

Douglas who for me is a weak link at the moment missed a great chance early in the second half before Miller and then Derry were both booked as the tackles flew in.


The Whites finished strongly and as against Reading the link up play between midfield and attack was much better, some credit should go to Bakke here, also although we had 4 players booked, I was pleased with that side of our game, the tackling was non-existent against Hull the other week.
Crewe next up but the main thing now is protecting our main players from any injuries so I do expect a few changes for the weekend.

Not bad! This was definitely the best we have played since we beat Palace away, and we scored a goal from open play as well, the first time we have done that since the Norwich game in March.


No matter that we conceded a late equalizer to finally extinguish hopes of automatic promotion, it was the performance that mattered.
Killa came in to replace the injured Sean Gregan, Fraser Richardson was also out injured and he was replaced by Eirik Bakke, Robbie Blake was the only player kept out by the mystery bug and Eddie Lewis was rested.

Thankfully most supporters got behind Kevin Blackwell from the start; I suspect that the tossers who have been sending hate mail are probably not LUFC fans and the support seemed to spur on the players who just about shaded the first half.


HT 0-0


The only thing missing was a goal but we did not have to wait long after the restart for that. The Whites moved the ball out to Derry who managed to get to the bye line and cross for Rob Hulse to finish from a couple of yards out. After the goal we should have gone further ahead but Reading managed to keep us out and towards the end of the game KB decided to rest a couple of players. We lost fluency and conceded the equalizer, a scruffy tap in by Stephen Hunt with 5 minutes to go.


FT 1-1


With this result came confirmation that the blunts were promoted, leaving us to concentrate on the play offs.

This is where the preparation for the play offs starts, after the blunts win yesterday we almost certainly have no chance of getting 2nd place. In fact half of me doesn't want us to beat Reading, as a win for us could mean the blunts clinch promotion against us on Tuesday - that would be too much to bear.

Whilst I do not believe that offering KB a 3 year contract was the right thing to do as I have always maintained that he is not good enough to manage LUFC, nobody should condone the threats being made against him by cowards purporting to be Leeds supporters.

They are twats, we need to be getting behind the team and manager for the play-offs not trying to de-rail the whole season now.


We could be without 6 players from last weeks pathetic effort against lowly Plymouth but that might not be a bad thing, Kelly, Crainey, Butler, Gregan, Richardson and Derry are all ill or injured; meaning Killa, Simon Walton, Bakke, Griffiths and unfortunately Dan Harding may get a game, Steve Stone may be ready for the play offs.


Reading are likely to play the same team that stuffed the Welsh last week as they attempt to win the championship with a record number of points.


I would like to think we could get a draw out of this one but I doubt it, a good performance and a goal would do me for now, then a win on Tuesday.


Prediction: Whites 1 v Reading 3


Come on Leeds!!!!!!

Four games now without a goal, 6 without a win, but at least we've now reached the play offs.


Having said that, if we play like we did on Saturday in the play offs we have no chance, we were shite again, poor passing, too much long ball, odd tactical decisions and people playing out of position.


Admittedly Plymouth came to defend but we should be creating a lot more than we are at the moment, I cannot remember us seriously troubling Larrieu in the Plymouth goal once other than when Healy struck the post.


Why play Gary Kelly at all if he is suffering from a virus? Why not take the opportunity to rest him?
I thought Beckford had been signed as a striker but no not now; he is played on the wing like that other striker David Healy.


Why not give Killa a few games to get him up to speed before the play offs?

We are struggling badly but the only consolation is that so are most of our rivals and we still have a few games to get our form back, though with KB at the helm I cannot see that happening.


Reading this weekend will give us a real idea of how far we have come in the last 12 months, if we give them a good game I will be happier, even if we get beaten, a goal from open play would be nice.


It is all about preparing for the play offs now, we need to get some confidence back before the season ends, there should be no reason to play with any fear between now and then. At least the last 4 opponents are unlikely to put every man behind the ball for 90 minutes, having said that Hull City didn't do that and we couldn’t score against them either.