BLACKWELL HAILS BATES' EFFECT
By Ross Heppenstall, PA Sport
Sporting Life
Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell hailed the impact of chairman Ken Bates as the former Chelsea supremo celebrated one year at the Elland Road helm.
Bates watched on from the directors' box as
Leeds beat Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 to keep the pressure on second-placed Sheffield United.
Former Owls striker Richard Cresswell grabbed two late goals after skipper Paul Butler finally broke the Owls' spirited resistance with a 72nd-minute header.
Blackwell paid tribute to Bates following the club's upturn in fortune since his takeover 12 months ago.
"I haven't spoken to the chairman yet but I'll go up and have a chat with him now," said Blackwell.
"It's been a momentous 12 months and what a way to finish it. Hopefully the next 12 months can be just as successful.
"The club has absolutely turned itself on its head and I don't think any of us would have ever thought that would be the case."
The 27,833 crowd was Leeds' biggest of the season and Blackwell insists the feelgood factor is returning to Elland Road.
He added: "The attendances are steadily rising and I think people couldn't believe how quickly this club imploded - from Champions League football to then be relegated to the Championship takes some doing.
"But right now it's a new era for Leeds United Football Club and if it's anywhere near as successful as the Don Revie era - God bless him - then there are good times ahead."
Wednesday arrived at Elland Road on the back of three straight wins but Leeds ultimately proved too strong.
After Butler headed home Jonathan Douglas' hooked cross, Cresswell added a header of his own from Gary Kelly's corner before adding an injury-time tap-in.
Blackwell paid tribute to the former Wednesday striker, adding: "That's the dream for everyone - to play against your old club and be man of the match with a couple of goals.
"He'll have a good weekend, I think. The three points were vital and I felt we looked a good strong team today and showed no signs of tiredness from the Wigan game on Tuesday.
"I thought 3-0 was a fair result and am pleased with the attitude of the players."
Owls boss Paul Sturrock felt there was several positives to come out of the defeat.
He said: "In the end the first goal was key, but I didn't feel it was a 3-0 result. I'm not downhearted and I've learned a few things today about my players.
"I've learned we are not a 4-3-3 team, but needs must today because we needed to get up there in their faces.
"You probably learn more in defeat than you do when you win. We're going to get healthier now because we've got 10 days without a game and we live to fight another day."
Sturrock reserved praise for Wednesday's 3,000 travelling supporters, who never stopped backing their team throughout the game.
He said: "The result will be hard for them to take because they were magnificent today and will find losing to one of their deadliest rivals a bitter pill to swallow."
By Ross Heppenstall, PA Sport
Sporting Life
Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell hailed the impact of chairman Ken Bates as the former Chelsea supremo celebrated one year at the Elland Road helm.
Bates watched on from the directors' box as
Leeds beat Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 to keep the pressure on second-placed Sheffield United.Former Owls striker Richard Cresswell grabbed two late goals after skipper Paul Butler finally broke the Owls' spirited resistance with a 72nd-minute header.
Blackwell paid tribute to Bates following the club's upturn in fortune since his takeover 12 months ago.
"I haven't spoken to the chairman yet but I'll go up and have a chat with him now," said Blackwell.
"It's been a momentous 12 months and what a way to finish it. Hopefully the next 12 months can be just as successful.
"The club has absolutely turned itself on its head and I don't think any of us would have ever thought that would be the case."
The 27,833 crowd was Leeds' biggest of the season and Blackwell insists the feelgood factor is returning to Elland Road.
He added: "The attendances are steadily rising and I think people couldn't believe how quickly this club imploded - from Champions League football to then be relegated to the Championship takes some doing.
"But right now it's a new era for Leeds United Football Club and if it's anywhere near as successful as the Don Revie era - God bless him - then there are good times ahead."
Wednesday arrived at Elland Road on the back of three straight wins but Leeds ultimately proved too strong.
After Butler headed home Jonathan Douglas' hooked cross, Cresswell added a header of his own from Gary Kelly's corner before adding an injury-time tap-in.
Blackwell paid tribute to the former Wednesday striker, adding: "That's the dream for everyone - to play against your old club and be man of the match with a couple of goals.
"He'll have a good weekend, I think. The three points were vital and I felt we looked a good strong team today and showed no signs of tiredness from the Wigan game on Tuesday.
"I thought 3-0 was a fair result and am pleased with the attitude of the players."
Owls boss Paul Sturrock felt there was several positives to come out of the defeat.
He said: "In the end the first goal was key, but I didn't feel it was a 3-0 result. I'm not downhearted and I've learned a few things today about my players.
"I've learned we are not a 4-3-3 team, but needs must today because we needed to get up there in their faces.
"You probably learn more in defeat than you do when you win. We're going to get healthier now because we've got 10 days without a game and we live to fight another day."
Sturrock reserved praise for Wednesday's 3,000 travelling supporters, who never stopped backing their team throughout the game.
He said: "The result will be hard for them to take because they were magnificent today and will find losing to one of their deadliest rivals a bitter pill to swallow."