BLACKWELL KEEPS PRESSURE ON PLAYERS
By Jamie Gardner, PA Sport
Sporting Life
Kevin Blackwell reminded his misfiring Leeds players that none of them is assured a starting berth after what he described as a "frustrating" goalless draw against Stoke at Elland Road.
Leeds had plenty of the ball but only came close when Rob Hulse's 90th-minute header hit the
post, and Sheffield United's victory over Southampton means the Whites trail their Yorkshire rivals by six points in the race for automatic promotion.
"Everyone has got to realise that no job is safe at the club - people need to step up to the plate for us now," said Blackwell.
"But nothing is ever predictable, we've got a good result when you look at the other results around us (Watford in third and Crystal Palace in fifth both lost) yet it doesn't feel like that.
"All we can do is keep going and stay focused on ourselves. There will be some twists and turns before the end of the season, we have still got to play Sheffield United remember.
"It's up to me to make sure we don't run out of steam. If you want that Premiership spot you need big balls and courage, what we have done so far is put ourselves in a great position to reach the Premier League."
Stoke boss Johan Boskamp talked down his side's performance, and also the prospect of him moving to Beveren after he met with the president of the Belgian club.
Boskamp said: "We are happy with the result. Stoke have played better games than today. A point was good for us, but the way we played was not so impressive.
"We let them come at us and get crosses into the box, but luckily for us every loose ball fell to us and not for Leeds.
"I saw Leeds play against Coventry and it looks like they are having difficulties scoring goals and also today they didn't create so many chances."
On the Beveren link, the Dutchman said: "I was at Beveren 20 years ago, the president is a friend and I say it again, I will not be going to Beveren."
Boskamp's Stoke contract is up on June 30, but despite his lack of enthusiasm his side were worthy of a point. On-loan forward Paul Gallagher had the first - and what was to prove the only - shot on target of a first half Leeds dominated in terms of possession. However, they failed to translate that into efforts on goal.
Stephen Crainey's left-foot volley from 30 yards in the 20th minute was dipping, but too late to trouble Potters goalkeeper Steve Simonsen.
Stoke skipper Michael Duberry suffered some abuse when he came up to the Kop end for a free-kick as Leeds fans reminded him of his role as a witness in the trial of former United stars Jonathan Woodgate and Lee Bowyer.
"I don't think the fans here like him," Boskamp observed.
"But he has worked well all week up to the game and now he has gone to see his friends here (Duberry said before the match he would go out with United full-back Gary Kelly this evening)."
The second half began brightly as Hulse's header and David Healy's shot from the edge of the box, both in the 50th minute, forced Simonsen to make saves.
Leeds brought on Robbie Blake and new boy Jermaine Beckford in pursuit of a winner, but Stoke went very close when Darel Russell's 25-yard drive with 20 minutes to go was tipped wide at full stretch by Sullivan.
Hulse's late downward header in the last minute of normal time hit the post, and Leeds slipped further off the pace for second place.
By Jamie Gardner, PA Sport
Sporting Life
Kevin Blackwell reminded his misfiring Leeds players that none of them is assured a starting berth after what he described as a "frustrating" goalless draw against Stoke at Elland Road.
Leeds had plenty of the ball but only came close when Rob Hulse's 90th-minute header hit the
post, and Sheffield United's victory over Southampton means the Whites trail their Yorkshire rivals by six points in the race for automatic promotion."Everyone has got to realise that no job is safe at the club - people need to step up to the plate for us now," said Blackwell.
"But nothing is ever predictable, we've got a good result when you look at the other results around us (Watford in third and Crystal Palace in fifth both lost) yet it doesn't feel like that.
"All we can do is keep going and stay focused on ourselves. There will be some twists and turns before the end of the season, we have still got to play Sheffield United remember.
"It's up to me to make sure we don't run out of steam. If you want that Premiership spot you need big balls and courage, what we have done so far is put ourselves in a great position to reach the Premier League."
Stoke boss Johan Boskamp talked down his side's performance, and also the prospect of him moving to Beveren after he met with the president of the Belgian club.
Boskamp said: "We are happy with the result. Stoke have played better games than today. A point was good for us, but the way we played was not so impressive.
"We let them come at us and get crosses into the box, but luckily for us every loose ball fell to us and not for Leeds.
"I saw Leeds play against Coventry and it looks like they are having difficulties scoring goals and also today they didn't create so many chances."
On the Beveren link, the Dutchman said: "I was at Beveren 20 years ago, the president is a friend and I say it again, I will not be going to Beveren."
Boskamp's Stoke contract is up on June 30, but despite his lack of enthusiasm his side were worthy of a point. On-loan forward Paul Gallagher had the first - and what was to prove the only - shot on target of a first half Leeds dominated in terms of possession. However, they failed to translate that into efforts on goal.
Stephen Crainey's left-foot volley from 30 yards in the 20th minute was dipping, but too late to trouble Potters goalkeeper Steve Simonsen.
Stoke skipper Michael Duberry suffered some abuse when he came up to the Kop end for a free-kick as Leeds fans reminded him of his role as a witness in the trial of former United stars Jonathan Woodgate and Lee Bowyer.
"I don't think the fans here like him," Boskamp observed.
"But he has worked well all week up to the game and now he has gone to see his friends here (Duberry said before the match he would go out with United full-back Gary Kelly this evening)."
The second half began brightly as Hulse's header and David Healy's shot from the edge of the box, both in the 50th minute, forced Simonsen to make saves.
Leeds brought on Robbie Blake and new boy Jermaine Beckford in pursuit of a winner, but Stoke went very close when Darel Russell's 25-yard drive with 20 minutes to go was tipped wide at full stretch by Sullivan.
Hulse's late downward header in the last minute of normal time hit the post, and Leeds slipped further off the pace for second place.