Wise ready to go down to the wire
LEEDS UNITED manager Dennis Wise is forecasting a "mad few weeks" as four clubs do battle to avoid joining Luton Town in being relegated from the Championship.The Elland Road chief believes the Hatters – seven points adrift of safety – are already down but that the remaining two places will be decided on the final day.
A trio of Yorkshire clubs will do battle with Southend United over the remaining four games to avoid the ignominy of being relegated to League One.
Third-bottom Leeds host Burnley tomorrow and with Barnsley meeting Southend United at Roots Hall, victory for Wise's men could lift them out of the drop zone.
The United manager was in optimistic mood yesterday at his weekly press conference, even going so far as to urge the assembled media: "Don't give in, chaps, you all sound a bit down."
He then added: "There are 12 points to play for and this is something we have to drum in. We have to believe we can do it.
"Eight minutes of madness (in Monday's 2-1 defeat at Colchester) undid our good run. But that was last week. If we can get a win, it all changes again. We could be out of the bottom three.
"I think it will be a mad few weeks. There will be teams on the edge, then in it and then out of it. It is very close between five teams, though maybe Luton will find it hard to get out. But as for the rest, it is going to be very close. A real close call.
"It will go to the last weekend and I hope Derby have won the league, are all drunk and have had a really good week."
If the relegation battle does go to the final day, Hull are the only one of the current bottom five scheduled to face a club not chasing promotion with Plymouth being due at the KC Stadium.
In contrast, while Leeds visit Derby, Barnsley make the trip to West Bromwich, Southend go to Southampton and Luton host Sunderland.
Tomorrow's fixture at home to Burnley is a more pressing concern, however, and United will be boosted by the return of Richard Cresswell, who was rested at Colchester due to concerns he would be unable to play twice in three days after a recent knee operation.
One United player who will have to sit out the Clarets game is Gary Kelly, who will not figure even if Frazer Richardson fails to recover from the hip injury that kept him out at Layer Road.
Since the former Republic of Ireland international recovered from an ankle problem last month, there has been a clamour from supporters for his return.
However, Wise said: "I would not say he is quite fit, in terms of full fitness he is a little bit off the pace. He is down the pecking order. It took him a while to get back and I went to watch him in a reserve game at Bradford when he played 60 minutes."
David Healy will take on the mantle of captain due to Jonathan Douglas being suspended for the rest of the season. The role has been something of a poisoned chalice this season with Paul Butler, Sean Gregan, Shaun Derry, Kevin Nicholls, Kelly and Douglas all having led the side out.
"David couldn't wait to say 'yes' when I spoke to him – that pleased me more than anything," added Wise.
"Some people might shirk it, but not him. I look for my captain to be someone who will not hide from situations and be a big person in the dressing room who everyone likes and respects. David fits the bill."
yorkshirepost.co.uk
