BLACKWELL EYES PROMOTION PUSH
Sporting Life
Leeds manager Kevin Blackwell has challenged his side to catch the Coca-Cola Championship's top two after a 2-0 home win over Burnley.
Second-half goals from David Healy and Robbie Blake clinched victory in a game against a side that put up a determined effort at Elland Road and controlled proceedings for a large period.
And on the back of their superb comeback victory against Southampton on Saturday, Blackwell has challenged his team to build a run that will haul them into one of the automatic promotion places.
"That's what football's about," said Blackwell.
"We're half-way through the season and there's no doubt them (Reading) and Sheffield United are flying.
"But you've just got to keep playing every game and keep knocking points on the board.
"It's like a bike race, people go way out in front but it's funny how they get caught.
"The problem for both of those clubs is that they'll know that they need to keep looking over their shoulder.
"If we can put any pressure on them then great, but if we can't, we'll just keep plugging away and make sure we're in that top six.
"The Burnley side were on a great run, and we knew that as a top-six side coming here, they'd be difficult to play against," added Blackwell.
"They're always difficult to play against and they didn't disappoint."
Blackwell's side struggled under the weight of expectation last season, and their latest victory will only serve to revive hopes of promotion, but he is doing his best to make sure his players do not lose their head this time.
"We had to have some grit and determination to hang on, we showed a bit of flair and we showed that we can score goals," said the United boss.
Burnley chief Steve Cotterill did little to temper the pressure on Blackwell and his players, claiming that with a squad like that, they should be putting pressure on the top two.
"If you've got Blake, Healy, (Eddie) Lewis, and (Rob) Hulse in your team, I don't think you can fail to win," he said.
"I think it's the best front line, the best creators in the league. You can argue maybe Wolves, but when Blakey's like that you can't handle him."
Cotterill added that he thought the performance of Blake, who scored with an exquisite free-kick, was the deciding factor, reluctantly praising the ex-Burnley striker.
"I don't want to give him any praise, but I thought he was the difference, I thought he was superb," he added.
With regards to the result, Cotterill felt harshly treated by the referee, who also cancelled out a quick free-kick from Jon Harley just three minutes after Healy's 55th-minute penalty.
"You better ask the referee about that," he said. "If someone else does it and bends it into the top corner (Blake), they say you're a genius, but if Jon Harley does it, we've got to take it again. Maybe he didn't want to give anything contentious tonight.
"I thought we were better than them tonight. If anyone was a betting man there would have been only one team you'd be putting your money on at half-time."
Sporting Life
Leeds manager Kevin Blackwell has challenged his side to catch the Coca-Cola Championship's top two after a 2-0 home win over Burnley.
Second-half goals from David Healy and Robbie Blake clinched victory in a game against a side that put up a determined effort at Elland Road and controlled proceedings for a large period.
And on the back of their superb comeback victory against Southampton on Saturday, Blackwell has challenged his team to build a run that will haul them into one of the automatic promotion places.
"That's what football's about," said Blackwell.
"We're half-way through the season and there's no doubt them (Reading) and Sheffield United are flying.
"But you've just got to keep playing every game and keep knocking points on the board.
"It's like a bike race, people go way out in front but it's funny how they get caught.
"The problem for both of those clubs is that they'll know that they need to keep looking over their shoulder.
"If we can put any pressure on them then great, but if we can't, we'll just keep plugging away and make sure we're in that top six.
"The Burnley side were on a great run, and we knew that as a top-six side coming here, they'd be difficult to play against," added Blackwell.
"They're always difficult to play against and they didn't disappoint."
Blackwell's side struggled under the weight of expectation last season, and their latest victory will only serve to revive hopes of promotion, but he is doing his best to make sure his players do not lose their head this time.
"We had to have some grit and determination to hang on, we showed a bit of flair and we showed that we can score goals," said the United boss.
Burnley chief Steve Cotterill did little to temper the pressure on Blackwell and his players, claiming that with a squad like that, they should be putting pressure on the top two.
"If you've got Blake, Healy, (Eddie) Lewis, and (Rob) Hulse in your team, I don't think you can fail to win," he said.
"I think it's the best front line, the best creators in the league. You can argue maybe Wolves, but when Blakey's like that you can't handle him."
Cotterill added that he thought the performance of Blake, who scored with an exquisite free-kick, was the deciding factor, reluctantly praising the ex-Burnley striker.
"I don't want to give him any praise, but I thought he was the difference, I thought he was superb," he added.
With regards to the result, Cotterill felt harshly treated by the referee, who also cancelled out a quick free-kick from Jon Harley just three minutes after Healy's 55th-minute penalty.
"You better ask the referee about that," he said. "If someone else does it and bends it into the top corner (Blake), they say you're a genius, but if Jon Harley does it, we've got to take it again. Maybe he didn't want to give anything contentious tonight.
"I thought we were better than them tonight. If anyone was a betting man there would have been only one team you'd be putting your money on at half-time."