David O'Leary has admitted being full of admiration for his players for their quick recovery from Tuesday's Champions League defeat against Valencia. His Leeds team remains in contention to qualify for next season's competition following yesterday's 6-1 thrashing of local rivals Bradford. "It goes down to the last day and I hope every season is like that," said O'Leary, who was involved in a similar scenario twelve months ago when Leeds pipped Liverpool for third spot.
With just one match to go, Leeds now trail third-placed Liverpool by one point. They are level with Ipswich, but their six goal spectacular means that they are four goals better off than George Burley's side.
"I asked for goals and I was delighted, especially with their attitude in the first half. The football was good, we got about them and we got goals. It was a great way to bounce back and I was delighted for the players. They needed lifting before the game because they were down and disappointed after what had happened in Valencia," said O'Leary.
"I told them that with two games remaining I wanted to finish the season on a high, that I didn't want it to end on a bad note, and they responded. I'm full of admiration for the way they raised themselves and their game, in particular in the first half when there was a hunger to ensure there was no slip up.
"I made the players pretty aware how important it was to beat Bradford to take the season down to the last game. We nailed that on and now our priority is to win again on Saturday. It doesn't matter what Charlton do if we don't deliver here, but I'm not thinking about Liverpool. All I know is we have to worry about ourselves first. It's as simple as that," he said.
Leeds must beat Leicester at Elland Road on Saturday and hope Liverpool fail to overcome Charlton. Ipswich can only qualify if they beat Derby by several goals at Pride Park.
Bradford's frustration was epitomised by a fight between skipper Stuart McCall and defender Andy Myers on the stroke of half time. McCall left Elland Road with stitches in a gash underneath his left eye, but Myers played down the incident and neither player will be disciplined by boss Jim Jefferies.
Myers said: "It was nothing. It was just frustration and personal pride after a torrid first half. We had had five goals banged past us by that stage and tempers flared, but we're both fine about it. There's no hard feelings. It was just one of those things. We sorted it out at half time and now we're the best of mates. We're professionals and we've all got pride and that's what was hurting us."
Filed by Greg McKevitt
