Considering what we're trying to achieve in our current position, to have two losses out of five games it isn't too good and could potentially put the brakes on our title push. What is also becoming increasingly clear to me is how we are winning games by a lot smaller margins rather than consolidating wins which implies we are beginning to lose confidence slightly. Even our top scorer, Billy Sharp only managed the one goal this month and I hope we can pick up some morale before it's too late.

Fixtures

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Leeds United vs Ipswich Town

3/3/2015
Elland Road
Sky Bet Championship

Goalscorers: Luke Murphy
Booked: Sol Bamba
Attendance: 27,359

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Wigan Athletic vs Leeds United

7/3/2015
DW Stadium
Sky Bet Championship

Goalscorers: Alex Mowatt
Booked: Liam Cooper, Charlie Taylor, Max Gradel
Attendance: 17,858

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Leeds United vs Nottingham Forest

14/3/2015
Elland Road
Sky Bet Championship

Goalscorers: Charlie Taylor
Booked: None
Attendance: 29,589

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Fulham FC vs Leeds United

18/3/2015
Craven Cottage
Sky Bet Championship

Goalscorers: None
Booked: Charlie Taylor, Nick Powell
Attendance: 17,821

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Blackpool FC vs Leeds United

21/3/2015
Bloomfield Road
Sky Bet Championship

Goalscorers: Billy Sharp, Max Gradel (2)
Booked: Tendayi Darikwa
Attendance: 7,801

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League table

Going into the final months of the season, we only lead by two points over third placed Wigan and a couple of poor results could lose us a spot in the automatic promotion slots altogether if we aren't careful. A healthy +7 goal difference is always a nice side to have when chasing something as big as promotion, but if you haven't got the points, you haven't got the title.

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April (May)

Not only do we face two highly positioned sides in Wolves (4th) and Norwich (8th) but we also have to look out for the upcoming Yorkshire Derbies against Rotherham United and Sheffield Wednesday of which both sides will be looking to destroy any chance of their bitter rivals gaining any success, especially on the final days of the season to rub the salt into the Leeds United wounds.

Keep going mate, just get through that final push

ONE. LAST. TIME.

Top of the table with not too many games left, time to secure the title!

The Motivated One: I hope so!

Pauker: WE'LL. DO. IT.

Justice: Time will tell

Tight at the top mate, just the final push now!

The Final Day

April has been a turbulent month for the Whites, recording three wins and three losses in their title chase. But that 'title' chase has declined into just a 'promotion' chase, as Watford lead the way at the top of the board going into the final day with Leeds it's only competitors.



Leeds' opponents today are Yorkshire Rivals Rotherham United, led by Steve Evans at Elland Road. Rotherham will be playing League One football but will want to leave their reminder today on Uwe Rösler's stuttering Leeds United by bringing them down into the play-off zones, meaning Wolves would go up instead. Wolves face Millwall today who are sat in 17th place, and would be delighted to be promoted today, especially coming up so late on in the season suddenly.

The Leeds United manager Uwe Rösler is ready for interview, lets have a word with him - over to you Geoff:

Shreeves: Thanks Gary, I'm here with Uwe Rösler who is hoping to take Leeds United to the Premier League today - Uwe, how are you feeling?

Rösler: Haha, I think you made a mistake there.

Shreeves: Did I?

Rösler: Yes, you said 'hoping to take', it should be 'is going to take'.

Shreeves: Well I suppose that answers my question! You've had quite a rough month in April haven't you, suffering defeats to Wolves, Norwich and Sheffield Wednesday throughout the month. Do you think you're capable of winning here?

Rösler: Oh, absolutely. Silly question. We wouldn't be where we are now if we weren't capable, we'd be Blackpool if we weren't capable. The key thing here is composure. If we have composure, we have the Premier League simple as.

Shreeves: What's your thoughts on Steve Evans' claims about Leeds not being equipped to be in the Premier League Uwe?

Rösler: Well, I don't know how he can talk, his side aren't even equipped to be in this league as proven haha! But seriously, we'll see if we're 'equipped' this afternoon won't we.

Shreeves: Mental par my friend, but I think you must go, the referee is calling you over.

Rösler: Oh, I see, thanks Geoff.

Maybe it's a booking for that roasting of Steve Evans' Rotherham! Anyway, the teams are lining up in the tunnel now. If you didn't hear before, here are the teams for today's showdown at Elland Road:

Leeds United starting 11: Bentley, Darikwa, Vann, Cooper, Taylor, Cook, Murphy, Powell, Gradel, Mowatt, Sharp.

Rotherham United starting 11: Collin, Richardson, Morgan, Wood, Davidas, Keita, Newton, Smallwood, Green, Ward, Bowery.

It's that famous Elland Road roar, bigger than ever on this day! 32,000 all crammed in today according to club estimates before the game based on ticket sales. It's one of the biggest games in Leeds United history today... And it's live!

1': Sharp kicks us off here at Elland Road, with the crowd delivering an almighty roar from the stands surrounding the pitch - it's electric here today!

22': Former Leeds player Frazer Richardson throws it down the line to Jordan Bowery. Knocked back to Richardson, poor cross and it's cleared away by Liam Cooper to the halfway line. Morgan lofts the ball forward. Cooper heads it straight to the feet of the unchallenged Newton. Sidi Keita has it now, Bowery tries to thread a ball through Cooper's legs, he's having none of it and Lewis Cook clears as far as Davidas. Smallwood finds the run into the box of Newton, Leeds are in trouble here! He's gone to the byline and it's a knee-high cross in! Jordan Bowery! GOAL! This wasn't in the script?! Steve Evans punches the air looking towards the North Stand - the Leeds United 'kop' stand. Silence prevails around West Yorkshire, with only the distant celebrations of Rotherham United fans to be heard. Uwe Rösler lifts his head up to the sky.


24': We have news of an ex-Leeds United player potentially saving his old club of a play-off nightmare now! Steve Morison - gifted to Millwall on a free transfer at the start of the season has put Millwall in the lead against Leeds' only promotion threat Wolves! He could gain legend status at Elland Road despite leaving 10 months ago!

26': And it's more bad news now. Bakary Sako has equalised the score at Molineux. Wolves are getting closer and closer to overtaking Leeds in the table.

34': Tendayi Darikwa throws it to Billy Sharp here on the right-hand side. Back to Darikwa. The Rotherham defence push their high line further, but are caught out with a return ball to Sharp running in behind by Darikwa - clever play from the little man. Sharp whips in a cross from the right flank... Finds Powell! It's in! It's a goal! Wonderful header from the loanee from Manchester United! Oh wait... No, it's been ruled out! The indication of the linesman's flag suppresses the roar of Leeds United fans all over the world, is it Leeds United's day today?


46': Bowery restarts the game by passing it back to former Leeds midfielder Paul Green.

48': Mowatt looks set to whip in a cross from this free-kick near the halfway line. Frazer Richardson heads the ball to safety. Ward takes control of the ball as well as the pending counter-attack. It's Rotherham's five against Leeds United's two here, it's not looking good. Back-up is surging towards the Leeds United net from both sides here. Charlie Taylor commits himself to the sliding tackle and wins the ball which ends up at Newton's feet... Tendayi Darikwa is left to cover three on his own in the box, it's crossed in! Bowery! GOAL! It just gets worse and worse for Leeds now! It's 2-0 to Rotherham! Unbelievable scenes at Elland Road!


49': And that's that, Bakary Sako has netted once again at the Molineux to take the lead against Millwall. Wolves now take Leeds United's 2nd place spot and look set to go up unless there's a dramatic revival of spirits here at Elland Road, which at the moment doesn't look likely at all.

52': Ward tries to play it into Richardson on the right flank here, the ball is won by Taylor who chases back. Cook hoofs the ball to the halfway line to Billy Sharp, great ball from the youngster! Sharp gives it back to Jack Vann. Cook finds Sharp on the edge of the box one-on-one! Deflected into the hands of Collins! What an awful day Leeds are having of all days.

61': And that should confirm Wolves' victory over Millwall. Nouha Dicko has put a third goal in at the Molineux - now it's all down to Leeds if they want definite Premier League football next season. 3-1 to Wolves there. Also news of a first goal at Watford, who are against Sheffield Wednesday at Vicarage Road. 1-0 there and they look set to win the title now.

65': Bentley hits it up towards Max Gradel. Chested down and plays a wonderful through ball to Sharp! Sharp hits it! Parried away for a corner - the Leeds United onslaught continues, but to no avail thus far. Charlie Taylor goes over to take the corner, Morgan clears it as far as Murphy. Tries to find Taylor but it's rolled out for a goal-kick. The pass was way too heavy for Taylor.

87': News of a second goal at Vicarage Road now - Odion Ighalo has scored for Watford so they have almost definitely won the Championship title. It's all doom and gloom at Elland Road now.

90': Sharp takes control of the ball after a Taylor throw-in. The pace has been extorted from the game by the Rotherham players now. The city of Leeds knows it's the play-offs now. Mowatt is tackled by Richardson without needing much effort. Taylor clatters into Richardson and wins the ball, but it doesn't matter now - Wolves are up, Leeds are staying down for now. And that confirms it, Jack Vann takes the last kick of the game - an angry hoof into the stands to show his discontent at the loss as the final whistle goes. It just sums up today's performance does that. Watford and Wolves go up automatically, Leeds are to battle it out in the play-offs.

Both Elland Road and the DW Stadium were packed out to the brim in the semi-final of the Championship Play-Offs as Uwe Rösler visited the stadium he once stood almost on a weekly basis for just less than a year.

In his time at Wigan, Rösler guided the Latics to a Championship play-off semi-final, as well as an F.A. Cup semi-final months earlier. Even the man who sacked him - Dave Whelan said the sacking was unfair considering his achievements but with Wigan regarded as early favourites for relegation last season, the East German was sacked and replaced by Malky Mackay, a controversial decision taking into account Mackay's ongoing FA investigation into text messages sent by Mackay. The appointment was heavily criticised by the Kick It Out campaign, with the organisation complaining that Whelan had 'disregarded the FA investigation upon appointing Malky Mackay'.


Uwe Rösler in his Wigan days.

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But all that is history. Rösler was back in another play-off semi-final but this time with Leeds, who lost out on automatic promotion on the final day after a defeat to relegated Yorkshire neighbours Rotherham United in their own back yard. It was an awful result that enraged Rösler for ages after the game, claiming that his players were 'useless' and 'a waste of space', but then went onto apologise for his comments a few days later. The apology was duly accepted by the club and the targeted players.

Goalkeeper Daniel Bentley commented that Rösler had been right to take his anger out on the players that day as they just 'weren't up to it' according to the former Southend United prodigy.

But the Leeds players are halfway there to redeeming themselves following the Rotherham disaster, beating Wigan on both occasions in the play-off semi-final - achieving a spot at Wembley against Derby County on the 25th of May after Gary Rowett led his men to a 3-2 aggregate win over Brentford in the other fixture.

Billy Sharp certainly refound his form from earlier this season at the DW Stadium as he scored both goals in a 2-0 win in front of a 25,133 attendance crowd - a sellout in the first leg. He won the Man of the Match award with Max Gradel and Sol Bamba performing excellently as Leeds put themselves two goals ahead going into the same fixture at Elland Road.

Despite having the force of the Elland Road crowd - 39,439 strong all pitchside, Leeds only managed one goal for their fans, but a day out in London would certainly settle the lack of goals as Max Gradel scored his 25th of the season in all competitions in the 92nd minute of the game with a bamboozling shuffle past two defenders before slotting in the finish into the bottom left-hand corner of the net. Charlie Taylor put in an awesome display of attacking and defending ability and in doing so won the Man of the Match award.

Robbie McDaid made an appearance in the 65th minute of the game and assisted Gradel's goal late on in the game. The Irishman was 'delighted' to play in one of the biggest matches of the season. In February, McDaid made his first-team debut for Leeds against Watford and scored a 90th minute winner which left the Leeds fans in adoration of the former Glenavon striker.


Nick Powell will be playing his last game in the white shirt of Leeds at Wembley next week.

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A full 90,000 Wembley crowd will be on display at the end of this month to watch Uwe Rösler's wonderkids take on the experience of Gary Rowett's Derby County in a team boasting Will Hughes, Chris Martin and Craig Bryson. They will be up against the likes of Sol Bamba, Charlie Taylor, Lewis Cook, Max Gradel, Alex Mowatt, Billy Sharp and Nick Powell, who will be ending his loan spell in Yorkshire at Wembley and will be hoping to end his stay on a high, achieving promotion in his last game and maybe, just maybe signing a permanent deal at Elland Road if so. Anything is possible at Leeds.

Ed Chamberlain: It's one of the biggest games in both of these teams' history today, Derby have never returned to the Premier League since they achieved the record for the least points ever in the top flight, attaining only eleven points in the 2007/08 season with one win in the whole season.

Leeds United however, have been suffering a severe downfall ever since the financial meltdown of 2004. Former chairman Peter Ridsdale had taken out large loans against the prospect of the share of the TV rights and sponsorship revenues from UEFA Champions League qualification and subsequent progress in the competition. This led to relegation from the Premiership in 2004. It's been over a decade since said event happened and now is their chance to put all the financial implosion behind them, and hit the jackpot of the top-flight, but with a last challenge in the way - a play-off final.

Today we have former Leeds United manager Simon Grayson in the studio, who yesterday won promotion to the Championship in the League One play-off final against Doncaster Rovers thanks to a penalty win with former Leeds United youth graduate Dan Harding missing the vital penalty for Rovers to put Preston into the second tier.

Simon, you took Leeds up on the last day thanks to Jermaine Beckford's goal against Bristol Rovers. Just tell the viewers how it feels to make these supporters as happy as that day?

Simon Grayson: You know what Ed, I cannot explain it. I remember watching that game on the Football League Show later that night and I'm sure it captured my face as Becks scored that goal, I went bright red. I don't exactly know what that feeling was, but I can tell you now, it's up there with my marriage day and the birth of my kids - don't let my wife see this! But honestly, these supporters come in such mass quantities and to get them feeling the exact same feeling, that is special.

Chamberlain: How does yesterday's events with Preston compare to that day?

Grayson: That's a tough question. I haven't had much time to process fully what happened yesterday. It felt brilliant, taking a team up at Wembley in front of about 25,000 fans? Quality. But there's that sense of togetherness at Elland Road, especially on that day. That togetherness along with myself being a supporter of the club was just fascinating. I'd definitely choose that day over any day of my life. To go one goal down, to having one of the best players in the league sent off (Max Gradel), to one of the local lads, Jonny Howson scoring the equaliser - and then Beckford's finish. It was the craziest day I've been present at, but it was so very worth it in the end.

Chamberlain: What's your thoughts on Uwe Rösler at Leeds?

Grayson: I think everyone's seen what he's capable of everywhere he's been at. He took Brentford into the Championship and left them with a solid core to make them an established Championship side, then taking Wigan to the Play-off and F.A. Cup semi-finals, to this today, on the brink of a promotion to the Premier League! He's a wonderful guy and eloquently spoken, he knows his football and to add to that he knows people. He knows how people work, especially in football, and as a manager that is absolutely key to success.

Chamberlain: Are you backing Leeds today?

Grayson: Absolutely. Who else would I back, I've loved Leeds ever since I was little.

Chamberlain: Any predictions before the game?

Grayson: I'm not a betting man really, but I'd love to see Leeds win, the score? 2-1 I'm thinking and seeing Beckford on the bench makes me think he's going to come on and do a Bristol Rovers - send Leeds up. But it's all up to Rösler, it's his game today and the Leeds fans will no doubt give them a 12th man advantage. It's going to be a cracker.

Chamberlain: It sure is, the teams are lined up in the famous Wembley tunnel - a once in a lifetime opportunity for many of these players. Lets have a final look at the line-ups for both sides today.

LUFC XI: Bentley (GK), Darikwa (RB), Bamba (CB), Cooper (CB), Charlie Taylor (LB), Cook (DM), Murphy (CM), Powell (CM), Gradel (RW), Mowatt (LW), Sharp (ST).

DCFC XI: Grant (GK), Christie (RB), Shotton (CB), Keogh (CB), Lowe (LB), Walters (RM), Bryson (CM), Hughes (CM), Hendrick (CM), Forsyth (LM), Martin (ST).

LUFC SUBS: Paul Robinson (GK), Jack Vann, Sam Morsy, Sam Byram, Jermaine Beckford, Ben Pringle, Chris Dawson.

DCFC SUBS: Benjamin Siegrist (GK), Raúl Albentosa, George Thorne, Mason Bennett, Iván Calero, Isak Ssewankambo, Alefe Santos.

1': The teams are out and Billy Sharp passes to Nick Powell - who makes his last appearance for Leeds here today at Wembley. It's gone back to Sol Bamba.

14': Hughes swings one in from the corner. Bamba makes the first connection and heads it away to find the feet of Mowatt on the edge of his own box. He fires one high into the air which Gradel has done well to control. He now has a two-on-three situation with Billy Sharp on the attack here. A cross goes in headed away by Shotton. Charlie Taylor feeds it Mowatt inside the box, takes a shot which deflects wide for a corner. Mowatt swings one in from the left... Gradel gets his head on it! Just wide by the Ivorian!

17': Mowatt takes the free-kick... Hits it wide.

26': Taylor takes the throw-in. Sharp crosses in a ball to the far post, Forsyth heads it away. It lands at Murphy's feet and he hits it! Just wide of the post!

30': Will Hughes to whip one in from the free-kick here for Derby - the first significant looking attack of the game so far. It's found Jeff Hendrick's head who powers one into the middle of the box... Richard Keogh connects with it! GOAL! The captain has scored for Derby! Daniel Bentley couldn't react to the change in direction quick enough and it's in! It's Derby who have taken the lead! Richard Keogh the captain breaks the deadlock at Wembley! 1-0!

31': Murphy passes the ball back to Sol Bamba from kick off. Slides a pass out wide to Darikwa. He plays the ball up the right flank to find Max Gradel, switches it over to Charlie Taylor on the other side. Superb pass! Taylor passes to Lewis Cook in the centre, lays off Murphy on his right, Murphy takes a touch to lay himself off, Murphy hits it! Tipped over the bar by Derby's Lee Grant. Mowatt's corner is headed away by Christie.


45': It's half time here at Wembley. Richard Keogh has given Derby County the lead going into the break and the Derby fans are absolutely elated in the stands. It's 1-0 at the break.


46': Chris Martin gets the second half underway with the Derby kick off. Will Hughes has been replaced by Mason Bennett at the break.

53': Tendayi Darikwa has a throw-in near the Derby byline. Murphy plays a one-two with the full-back on the right flank. The white shirts of Leeds flood the penalty area in expectancy of a cross from Darikwa. The cross comes into the six-yard box and it's teasing Lee Grant here, Alex Mowatt comes in with the header! Hits the bar! Max Gradel on the follow up!!! GOAL! Leeds have equalised thanks to Max Gradel! He volleys in the rebound into the open net! Beautiful initial cross by Tendayi Darikwa and great commitment from Mowatt, with Gradel hitting the back of the net. Game on!


60': Charlie Taylor has the throw-in for Leeds very deep inside the Derby half, almost touching the byline here. Mowatt chests it down and swings a pass over to Lewis Cook on the edge of the box with bags of time and space here! Opens up his body, shoots... Parried away for a corner by Grant! Wonderful stop from the Derby 'keeper! Mowatt's corner finds Gradel at the near post, Christie heads it off the line! Falls to Billy Sharp! Headed away by Keogh! Wonderful bravery from the Irishman! Great piece of defending from Derby!

SUB: George Thorne comes on for Max Lowe in the 61st minute.

62': Grant takes the free-kick for Derby. Martin finds George Thorne with the header. Hendrick, to Bennett. Bennett tries to find Martin, but finds Darikwa instead who gifts the ball back to Hendrick. Thorne feeds it into Hendrick, finds Martin in space! He shoots! Bentley has it gratefully in his hands.

SUB: Sam Morsy comes on for Nick Powell who thanks the Leeds supporters for what has been a wonderful season for him at Elland Road.

70': Taylor throws it to Morsy on the left. He turns and locates a pass to Luke Murphy who is in plenty of space inside the centre circle. Sharp has it now. Craig Bryson makes the tackle and wins the second ball before finding Mason Bennett, tackled by Sol Bamba. Tendayi Darikwa skips past George Thorne with majestic skill before finding Gradel. Morsy has it. The Egyptian international is tackled but Leeds still have possession with Luke Murphy here. Finds Lewis Cook, he sees Billy Sharp! Sharp turns Richard Keogh and unleashes a shot! Forces a dive out of Grant, out for a corner. Mowatt's cross results in a header over the bar by Liam Cooper.

75': Mowatt is in a perfect position to put in a cross from this free-kick. The angle is beautiful for a left-footer like Mowatt. Gradel runs in at the far post! Heads it! It clips the outside of the post! Unlucky for the winger!

SUB: Ryan Shotton comes off for Raúl Albentosa at the 79th minute.

81': Forsyth has a free-kick within shooting distance. He studies his options. Bentley dives but it hits the wall and canons back to Bennett. Albentosa lays off Walters! Gets a save out of Bentley - it's a corner. Bryson's corner is hoofed away by Lewis Cook - no nonsense stuff from the 17-year-old.

90': Thorne finds the run of Mason Bennett down the left flank. Bamba chases him down before executing a wonderful challenge on the youngster. Hoofs it away only to find the feet of Mowatt who cuts inside from the left to win the ball, it's with Billy Sharp now. Murphy releases the ball to Max Gradel. He goes past the challenge of Forsyth with ease, then he hits a shot into the side netting. A shot of desperation really.

90+3': The referee calls time on the 90 minutes, we're going into extra-time now.


90': Leeds kick off the first half of extra-time here.

100': Mowatt runs up to hit the free-kick... Hits the wall and it's back at his feet again. Morsy is laid off but tackled by Christie.


SUB: Jermaine Beckford comes on for Luke Murphy at the break and Leeds now play a 4-4-2 as opposed to their regular 4-3-2-1 formation with Lewis Cook moved into central midfield now alongside Sam Morsy.

108': Bamba has loads of time in his half and strides out with the ball. Finds his international teammate in Max Gradel out on the right. He goes past Hendrick now. Then plays it inside for Billy Sharp just before Craig Forsyth's challenge. Gradel makes a run in behind and Sharp completes a one-two now... Gradel's continuing his run to the byline, sends a high cross in towards Beckford, headed away. It's Sam Morsy on the edge of the box. Mowatt faces no challenge in the box, he can turn, he finds Beckfordddd!!! GOAL! Jermaine Beckford has done it again for Leeds! He scores a lot, but by God that boy scores on the big occasions! First Old Trafford, then Bristol Rovers, and now Derby at Wembley! Unbelievable scenes in London! Beckford runs into the ecstatic Wembley crowd, with his teammates pushing him further into the raptures of joy in the stands! What a moment! What a picture! What a goal from that man Jermaine Beckford!


109': Chris Martin gets Derby kicking off straight away - they can't waste any time now! Bennett plays it back to Bryson, he searches all round him for options. George Thorne is his choice out on the left now. Mason Bennett controls it and turns to face the Leeds United goal about 30 yards out now. Liam Cooper goes over to close down Chris Martin with the ball now. Liam Cooper wins the duel and hammers the ball way out of trouble. Derby start again with a header to Richard Keogh from Albentosa. Thorne here. Avoids the challenge with Darikwa as he passes a hip height pass to Bennett. Leeds under threat once more as he skips past Sol Bamba, Bamba makes a sliding tackle to recover but Chris Martin latches onto the loose ball in the area! Chris Martin!!! GOAL! Chris Martin instantly replies to Beckford's goal! It's level once more! Martin fires it past Daniel Bentley at the near post! He sprints off, he doesn't know what to do next! Derby fans celebrate right in the faces of the Leeds fans who were doing the same just one minute ago! 2-2 at Wembley!


115': Forsyth takes the throw-in next to the halfway line. Hendrick fires a ball down the left flank for Mason Bennett to chase, Darikwa gets their first as expected, though. Bamba clears only as far as Thorne in the middle with no challenging Leeds player near him. Bryson gives it to Hendrick, Martin hands it to Bennett who has Cooper directly in front of him. Nail-biting stuff here in London! A tackle is made by Cooper, it falls to Hendrick, to Bryson, now Martin who hits it first time!!! Bentley stops it but it's a free-kick anyway.

120': Darikwa to take the throw-in here. Sharp controls it with his back to the Derby defence. Cook, to Morsy. Beautifully played out wide to Gradel. A cross comes in... Headed away by Albentosa. Morsy on the edge of the area... Jon Walters makes the challenge before Lewis Cook sprays the ball wide to Charlie Taylor in loads of space! A shot from Taylor is deflected out for a corner, one last chance for Leeds here?! Mowatt lines up the cross, it comes in... Chris Martin gets to it first and clears and Billy Sharp has the final kick of open play. It's penalties.


Leeds: Jermaine Beckford - the man who took the lead two minutes after coming on for Luke Murphy is the first to take the penalty... Top right-hand corner! Beautiful penalty! 1-0 Leeds.

Derby: Chris Martin, the man who equalised the score just one minute after Beckford's 108th minute goal, steps up first for Derby County... Perfect penalty. Hard and low into the left-hand corner. 1-1.

Leeds: Billy Sharp now. Leeds' top scorer in this campaign with 22 goals this season. Can he do it when it matters most though? He can! Literally top drawer from Billy Sharp. 2-1 Leeds now.

Derby: Mason Bennett here, dubbed the next best English centre-forward, can he continue his great form by putting this away? Uff! Only just! The ball found it's way just in between the gap between Bentley's left hand and his head! 2-2.

Leeds: Now it's Max Gradel. Returning to Leeds after an exile to France for three seasons. He's the second top scorer this season for Leeds with 19 league goals. Can he do it now??? Absolutely. Power, precision, perfect. 3-2 Leeds now.

Derby: Now it's Jeff Hendrick's turn. He's bossed the Derby midfield all game, will he boss or bottle this penalty? Wonderful penalty from Hendrick! Way out of Bentley's reach! It's 3-3 and it's getting tense not only on the pitch but you can almost hear the screams of nervousness from every supporters insides right now.

Leeds: Next up for the seventh penalty of the shoot-out it's Leeds' Tendayi Darikwa. Signed from Chesterfield and has played absolutely excellently all season, can he cap off his great season with a great penalty here? Definitely. Straight down the middle. No stopping that from Lee Grant who dives right. it's 4-3 Leeds now.

Derby: It's Jonathan Walters up now. He's a man well known for mistakes and buckling under pressure, can he put his history beside him for now and finish this off? He can't! It's wide! Leeds have the advantage here and Walters looks to the heavens! He's the most hated man in Derbyshire tonight if Leeds go onto win this. But on we go! It's still 4-3 to Leeds.

Leeds: This has to be in the script. A young man, in the Leeds academy ever since he struck the age of eight years old, tutored by Leeds' excellent coaches, nurtured by Neil Redfearn, winning the Under-17 international World Cup for England under John Peacock, and now, here he is at Wembley, with the chance to send his childhood club into the Premier League for the first time since 2004. He runs up... He's done it! He's scored! He's sent Leeds into the Premier League! What a story for the 18-year-old!

Uwe Rösler joins the pile on with Lewis Cook on the bottom, Jermaine Beckford plants a smacking kiss on Rösler's bald head! Leeds have done it! Leeds are up! Leeds are back in business! What a day for the Leeds United fans! Jonathan Walters sits on the halfway line bawling his eyes out, you have to feel sorry for the man. But today is all about Leeds, Lewis Cook, Uwe Rösler and the fans. From the depths of League One and administration to a Wembley win to send them to the Premier League. What a journey. What a journey.

great update mate

hows the ladder looking?

NEIL REDFEARN has confirmed that he intends to accept Leeds United’s offer of returning to his old job running the club’s academy – and will start work in his former post on July 11th.

Back on May 20th last year, the club stated that Redfearn had been offered his position back running United’s youth-team set-up after announcing his departure from the first-team head coaching role at Elland Road by appointing Uwe Rosler.

Redfearn had been considering the club’s offer for the past season – and has now decided to revert to his former role after receiving no job offers from anywhere else.

When Redfearn became permanent head coach in November 2014, the deal – which was due to last until June 30th – included a clause guaranteeing him that his previous role as academy boss would be available again if Leeds chose not to keep him in charge of the first team for 2015-16.

Redfearn’s contract with the academy is a rolling 12-month agreement, which is understood to only end when one party gives the other a year’s notice.

Redfearn joined the academy at Thorp Arch in 2009 and took control of the youth-team system after former manager Chris Sulley quit the role in 2012.

During his time at the Academy, he has helped bring through a number of talented homegrown players, including Sam Byram, Lewis Cook, Alex Mowatt, Charlie Taylor and Kalvin Phillips and was widely praised for his work there.


Lewis Cook was coached by Neil Redfearn for many years in the academy.

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Despite the acrimony of the final weeks of Redfearn’s tenure of head coach, compounded by a scathing newspaper interview last month in which owner Massimo Cellino accused Redfearn of acting “like a baby” and of being a “weak character”, the 49-year-old is now focusing on a new chapter and the challenges ahead back with the academy.

Redfearn told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “My contract had said that if I wasn’t offered the (head) coaching job, then I will go back to being the academy manager.

“That is what will be happening and I will go back on the eleventh of July, as it stands at the moment.

“I have had a bit of interest from other people, but to be honest, I am a fair way into this now with the academy and had spent six and a bit years here.

“I have brought a number of these kids through and it is something that I want to keep doing.”

He added: “As far as I am concerned, on the eleventh of July, I am coming back as academy manager.

“It is a job which in the greater scheme of things had been massively important and it is important for the rest of the academy to know that it does matter.”

“It will be good to continue that and if we can continue to supplement Uwe’s first team and bring some more kids through and he can use them, that it’s good news for everybody.”

Despite Redfearn’s unceremonious removal as head coach of Leeds after steadying the ship impressively in 2014-15 and having the gratitude of large sections of United’s support, executive director Adam Pearson confirmed last month that Redfearn was free to resume his old job.

Pearson was adamant that the offer was a genuine one, regardless of obvious tensions between Redfearn and Cellino, but he conceded that Redfearn’s performance as head coach might earn him invitations to manage elsewhere.

Speaking at the unveiling of Rosler as new head coach and clarifying the position of Redfearn last season, Pearson said: “Neil’s been offered the appointment back in charge of the academy and we await his answer.

“The role’s been offered to him and I’m sure he’ll come back to me as soon as he’s had time to think about it.”

Leeds manager Uwe Rösler and assistant Graham Barrow have signed two-year contract extensions at Elland Road.

Rösler was unveiled as The Whites' manager in July 2014 after his sacking from Wigan and won promotion to the Premier League last season with Leeds.

The 46-year-old has been rewarded with an extension that will keep him at Elland Road until the summer of 2018.

"When the club approached me I was very pleased they saw my long-term future here," Rösler told BBC Radio Leeds.

"From my perspective I have not thought about anything other than Leeds United and I am very happy with how we are progressing on and off the pitch," he said.

"This is an opportunity for me to build something special, hopefully to take the club I love forward with the backing of some great people behind me."

The former Brentford manager, who also used to play for Manchester City, paid tribute to Italian owner Massimo Cellino, who has helped transform the club in his eyes.

"It's very difficult to find the right balance with relationships off the pitch," he said. "But I think we have that here and I'm lucky to have a good relationship with Massimo and long may that continue.

"Massimo has long-term objectives and a vision and a plan to take the club forward. He is very ambitious, he shares my philosophy for attractive football so that is why we are a good match."

Rösler's debut competitive match was one to forget though, as the Whites lost 3-1 to Millwall in the first game of the season at The Den, with Jermaine Beckford scoring on his return for Leeds since he departed for Everton in the summer of 2010. He now finds himself at Burnley.

But the relationship between Cellino and Rösler has not always been rosy. Three months into Rösler's reign at Leeds, Cellino fell out with the East German because of selection issues. The rift between the two has definitely seemed to eased off nowadays, but it still happened.


Cellino and Rösler had a fall-out around October 2014.

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Cellino spoke only a little about Rösler's new deal saying that 'it was for the fans' and that Rösler 'was a good manager'. Hardly showering the man with praise, but it's still promising for Leeds under Rösler, no matter what Cellino thinks.

Rösler has aided the development of many players since his arrival, Daniel Bentley, Chris Speed, Alex Mowatt, Sam Morsy and Tendayi Darikwa have all come out in praise for the 46-year-old at some point in their Leeds United careers.

Many players adore Rösler for allowing them the chance to regularly play against the likes of Man United, Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool. And with new additions on the way, what's stopping Leeds from doing the impossible and defeating these teams?

Rösler has reportedly held talks with Preston North End's Joe Garner and his agent Chris Curtis at his Elland Road office. The Lancashire-born hitman scored 22 times for the Lilywhites last season in League One and has been on the radar for many clubs in the top-flight and second tier. The striker will be wanting to get his hands on a big payday before his retirement and a move to the Premier League will nigh on guarantee that.

Rösler signs a new two-year deal at Elland Road and is being paid £22,000 per week, while his assistant - Graham Barrow will be paid £1,800 per week until 30th June 2018, like Rösler's deal.

Leeds United have officially confirmed Martyn Glover as the club’s new head of recruitment, as expected, with the vastly-experienced operator being the latest backroom appointment at Elland Road.

His arrival follows on from the addition of Stuart Hayton as the new club secretary of United, with Hayton having worked in previous roles at Liverpool and Wigan Athletic.

A club statement on the appoint of Glover read: “We would like to welcome Martyn Glover to Leeds United as the club’s new head of recruitment.

“Martyn, who arrives from West Ham United, will work closely with head coach Uwe Rosler and will be responsible for all aspects of the club’s scouting and recruitment.

“Martyn boasts a wealth of experience and expertise in his role, having spent four years at Upton Park and 13 years with Blackburn Rovers prior to that.”

Glover worked as assistant chief scout at Blackburn Rovers before being promoted under the reign of Sam Allardyce to head of player recruitment at Ewood Park in August 2009 when Rovers also named Steve Kean as first-team coach following Karl Robinson’s exit to MK Dons.

Prior to stepping up in 2009, Glover had worked at Blackburn for 11 years, holding a number of positions in recruitment and development with the academy and at the club’s senior training centre.

On Glover’s appointment, Allardyce said: “Martyn has been with the club over a long period and has shown exceptional dedication to the task of recruitment.

“He has moved up from assistant chief scout to this new challenge and he is taking on a vastly important role, crucial to the future of the club.”

Before joining Blackburn, Glover used to work as the director of physical education at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in the town.

In his time at Blackburn, Glover assisted chief scout, Mike Rigg and during his latter time in that role, he scouted players aged 15 to 21 at home and abroad before being promoted when Allardyce took over.
Glover went onto link up with Allardyce when he moved to West Ham as head of player recruitment in 2011.

But his days at Upton Park were effectively numbered in the spring when former Everton and Sunderland scout Tony Henry was put in charge of the Hammers’ summer recruitment policy - with Allardyce expected to leave at the end of last season.

Glover was a trusted part of Allardyce’s backroom team at West Ham, with his Linked In page saying he was responsible for all aspects of scouting, opposition analysis and player recruitment at Upton Park, with his role ending earlier this month.

Glover has experience of recruiting within the UK and a much better idea than the likes of Cellino and Nicola Salerno of the Premier League and what level of player will be required to progress further in the footballing world.