Leeds face play-off hopefuls Derby in the final game of the season.

Leeds welcome Derby County to Elland Road on Saturday for the final game of the Whites Championship season. The fans can put a dreadful season behind them and can begin preparing themselves for England's inevitable penalty shoot-out defeat in the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

The Whites looked like they would be in with a shout for a play-off spot themselves before a dramatic fall down the table left them hoping to avoid relegation. A mid-table finish for the third consecutive season is difficult to take for most Leeds fans but under Massimo Cellino they can hopefully look forward to a busy summer and then a successful 14/15 campaign.

Leeds have a terrible recent record against Derby, losing 11 in a row. McDermott will be hoping to end the streak in a season that has seen him end Leeds' losing streaks at Ipswich, Barnsley and most recently, Birmingham. The Whites have managed three wins in their last four, a feat they hadn't achieved since November 2013.

Derby have had a terrific season and head into the play-off's on fine form. As they sit third in the table they will have home advantage in the second leg. Five wins in a row means the Rams are the in-form side heading into the play-off's.

Sacking Nigel Clough and replacing him with Steve McClaren seems to have been a master-stroke by the higher powers at Derby as they have climbed from 14th to 3rd under the former England managers guidance. McClaren also inspired his side to a 5-0 thrashing of fierce rivals Nottingham Forest in March.

Chris Martin is the clubs leading league goal scorer as he has managed to find the back of the net 20 times in the Championship. The Rams have beaten Leeds 10 times in a row and the run stretches back to December 2006. With the play-offs just a week after the final game of the season, it is likely the Rams will rest a number of key players but they will still be up for the occasion as everybody loves to beat Leeds.

Ross McCormack didn't score in the 3-1 victory at Birmingham and the Whites captain still needs two goals to reach 30 in the Championship. The prolific striker is however just one away from 30 overall in a spectacular season for the Whites number 44. The Scottish international is the only Leeds player to have been named in the PFA Championship team of the year and I'm sure all Leeds fans are grateful for his services to the club this season.  

The sides have already met this season when the Rams ran out 3-1 winners in Steve McClaren's first game as Derby boss. Neither side has anything to play for but Derby will be hoping they won't have to play Leeds next season as they push for promotion.

Massimo Cellino offered Brian McDermott his sympathy this week giving the former Reading manager a glimpse of hope that he won't be sacked. Captain Ross McCormack has also said he wants Cellino to give him a contract extension at the club, giving the fans hope the clubs top scorer will be a Leeds player next season.

Last meeting: October 5, 2013, Derby County 3-1 Leeds United (Pearce)

At Elland Road: April 1, 2013, Leeds United 1-2 Derby County (McCormack)
Last five league games: Leeds United LWWLW
Derby County WWWWW

Latest results - Birmingham City 1-3 Leeds United / Derby County 4-2 Watford 

Pictures courtesy of: Daily Mail, Leeds United & Id Radebe Leeds 

Leeds travel to Birmingham for their final away game of the season.

Leeds travel to St' Andrews on Saturday to face a Birmingham side who haven't managed a home win since October 1st. The fixture is the Whites final away game of the season and the fans will be glad to see the back of this campaign which looked very promising with a top six finish seeming likely midway through the season. 

Leeds were sat fifth heading into the Boxing Day fixture at Blackpool but the highest the Whites can manage now is a disappointing 13th. The home defeat to Nottingham Forest was the 21st league defeat of the season for United and Brian McDermott has been left searching for some positives to take away from the campaign. 

One shining star for the Whites is the leagues top scorer, Ross McCormack. Without the Scots goals, Leeds would be sat rock bottom and would have been relegated weeks ago. Matt Smith has also been one of the few positives this season and his round of applause as he came on, on Monday showed the fans are impressed with his first ever Championship season. 

Birmingham are struggling and are currently sat on 43 points, dangerously hovering above the drop zone. The Blues are level on points with Blackpool who occupy the last relegation place but have a game in hand on the Seasiders. Birmingham haven't managed a home victory since a 4-0 hammering of Millwall in October of last year. 

The Blues have picked up just two home wins all season and have won just two of their last 11 league games. Three defeats in a row has left Birmingham clinging on for their lives in the table and they will be hoping to avoid passing rivals Wolves on the way down following Wanderers promotion back to the Championship. 

Birmingham face play-off hopefuls Wigan in their game in hand before ending the season away at Bolton. The Blues have a great away record this season and only four teams have managed more victories on the road. 

Leeds have an awful recent record against Birmingham with just three victories in the last 12 meetings between the sides. The Whites haven't won a league encounter at St' Andrews since 1982, another unwanted record Brian McDermott will be hoping to break following victories at Ipswich and Barnsley for a large number of years. 

Leeds have managed just six wins away from home all season and have nothing to play for. That being said, Ross McCormack is targeting thirty league goals for the season and needs two more goals to reach the milestone. The clubs captain has also revealed he wants to sign a contract extension with the club, signalling is intent to stay at the club. 

The sides have already met once this season and the Whites ran out 4-0 winners due to what can be best described as a clumsy Birmingham performance. Matt Smith was the star man during the game and this was when he began to prove he can find the back of the net. 

The last three league meetings between the sides in Birmingham have resulted in 1-0 victories for the Blues. Leeds did however, pick up a 2-1 victory at St' Andrews in an FA Cup replay last season. 

Last meeting: October 20, 2013, Leeds United 4-0 Birmingham City (McCormack, Austin, Smith x2)

At St' Andrews: April 20, 2013, Birmingham City 1-0 Leeds United
Last five league games: Birmingham City LWLLL
Leeds United LLWWL

Latest results - Birmingham City 2-4 Blackburn Rovers / Leeds United 0-2 Nottingham Forest 

Pictures courtesy of: Sky Sports, We Are Going Up & The Yorkshire Evening Post

Leeds face Forest after two wins on the bounce.

Leeds welcome Nottingham Forest to Elland Road on Easter Monday following two victories in a row. Brian McDermott's men have seen off struggling Blackpool and have left Barnsley battling for their lives in their last two games in which they haven't conceded a goal.

The back to back victories for Leeds is the first time the Whites have picked up six points on the trot since early February when they beat Huddersfield at home and Yeovil away. Following their last two wins on the spin, Leeds failed to win in their next six, losing four of those games.

Ross McCormack notched his 28th of the season with a spectacular goal at Barnsley which was also the first time a Leeds side has won at Oakwell since 1997. The victory means the Whites are now mathematically safe and fans can put this dreadful season to bed in anticipation of the next campaign.

Nottingham Forest were flying earlier in the season and were sat comfortably in the play-off positions. Forest went on a run of 12 games without a victory saw them slide from 5th down to as low as 11th in the table but a recent win over Birmingham on Saturday means they are still only three points from the play-offs.

During the run they had many key players missing through injury and sacked Billy Davies and replaced him with Stuart Pearce. Davies was sacked following a 5-0 humiliation by their rivals Derby County and with a trip to Bournemouth as well as Brighton at home, it will be a tough ask for them to finish in the top six.

Andy Reid is the clubs leading league goalscorer but the play-maker has been out injured for number of games which has contributed to the clubs downfall. Forest will be hoping they can take the race for the play-offs into the final game of the season, when they play a Brighton side that currently occupy the last play-off spot.

Leeds have lost just three games to Forest in the last 15 games but those three defeats have come in the last four meetings between the sides. Forest have beaten Leeds twice in a row at the City Ground and humiliated Leeds 7-3 at Elland Road in 2012.

Two great managers tends to be the topic of the chants that go around the stadium when the sides meet as both sides remember Don Revie and Brian Clough, in one way or another. Leeds' last victory over Forest came at the start of the 12/13 season when they held on to a 2-1 win.

Earlier in the season Forest came out victorious following a 2-1 win over Leeds at the City Ground. Ross McCormack had levelled the scores at 1-1 but Matt Derbyshire fired the winner for the home side just 70 seconds later.

Forest are still in with a shout for the play-offs but Leeds have nothing to play for. Brian McDermott will be hoping to end the season on a high to prove to Massimo Cellino that he is the man to take Leeds back to the Premier League.

Last meeting: December 29, 2013, Nottingham Forest 2-1 Leeds United (McCormack)

At Elland Road: September 22, 2012, Leeds United 2-1 Nottingham Forest (Becchio, Poleon)
Last five league games: Leeds United LLLWW
Nottingham Forest DLDLW

Latest results - Barnsley 0-1 Leeds United / Nottingham Forest 1-0 Birmingham City 

Pictures courtesy of - Sporting Life, Yorkshire Post & Yorkshire Evening Post

Leeds travel to Barnsley in search of their first win at Oakwell since 1997.

Leeds travel to Barnsley on Saturday following a 2-0 victory over Blackpool at Elland Road which put an end to a five game losing streak. The win over the Seasiders was the first time the Whites have played at home under new owner Massimo Cellino.

Leeds head into the fixture at Barnsley having lost to their fellow Yorkshire side four times in a row at Oakwell. The Whites haven't beaten the Tykes away from home since a 3-2 victory in the Premier League in 1997.

United have suffered a thumping or two during their travels to South Yorkshire in recent years and after putting an end to Leeds' terrible record on their travels to Ipswich, Brian McDermott will be hoping he can accomplish the same at Oakwell.

Barnsley currently sit two points from safety/four points from safety with four games to go. Trips to Derby and Middlesbrough and a difficult final day against QPR at home means it isn't looking promising for the Tykes.

The South Yorkshire club have managed just nine wins all season and have only been outside of the relegation places once this campaign. Only Millwall have conceded more goals than Barnsley and their top scorer, Chris O'Grady, has managed just 11 goals as the Tykes struggle for survival.

Barnsley's highest attendance of the season so far came when 16,400 turned up when they took on Derby County earlier in the season. With Barnsley's impressive form at home to Leeds accompanied with the fact they are battling for their lives, it wouldn't be surprising if this match was to attract the biggest crowd of the season to Oakwell.

Leeds's last success at Oakwell came courtesy of a brave fight back that saw the Whites come back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 thanks to an 82nd minute Derek Lilley winner. United have beaten Barnsley just once in the last nine meetings between the two sides with the Tykes clearly rising to the occasion more often. Barnsley have already taken a point from Leeds when they held the Whites to a frustrating 0-0 draw in December. The result kick started Leeds' massive fall down the table as they have managed just four wins in 21 games since.

A 5-2 hammering in 2010 followed by an embarrassing 4-1 mauling a year later has given Barnsley fans bragging rights over Leeds for a number of years and Brain McDermott will be hoping to put an end to the terrible run.

Barnsley's last outing saw them take all three points in their relegation clash at the Valley on Tuesday. The South Yorkshire side came away from Charlton with a 2-1 victory that has seen them leap frog Yeovil and move to within just two points of safety. Leeds' victory over Blackpool on Saturday has brought about a bit of positivity for the fans for the first time in a long time. Luke Murphy's brace earned him high praise as he showed what he can do when played in the right position.

Captain Ross McCormack has been stuck on 27 league goals for five games now with his last coming in the 2-1 defeat at home to Doncaster at the end of March. The clean sheet last Saturday was the first at Elland Road for Jack Butland and the travelling 5000 will be hoping for a repeat performance at Oakwell.

Last meeting: December 21, 2013, Leeds United 0-0 Barnsley

At Oakwell: January 12, 2013, Barnsley 2-0 Leeds United 
Last five league games: Barnsley LLWLW
Leeds United LLLLW

Latest results - Charlton Athletic 1-2 Barnsley / Leeds United 2-0 Blackpool 

Pictures courtesy of - Leeds United, Daily Mail & Daily Star 

Leeds face Blackpool at Elland Road following five defeats in a row.

Leeds face fellow strugglers Blackpool at Elland Road on Saturday on the back of five losses in a row. The Whites last victory came when they beat Millwall 2-1 following a team talk from club legend Vinnie Jones.

Leeds' most recent defeat was a 3-0 mauling at the hands of Watford on Tuesday night, the first time Leeds have lost at Vicarage Road since 1992. Michael Brown was the Whites stand out player as even at 37 years old, he still gave 100% until the final whistle.

Just three wins in 22 games in all competitions for the Whites sees them sitting just eight points from the relegation places with five games remaining. Blackpool have managed just two wins in 24 league games despite a tremendous start to the season. At one point this season the Tangerines led the way but currently sit 20th in the table, just three points from safety.

Barry Ferguson was installed as caretaker manager in January following the dismissal of Paul Ince. One win in 12 saw the former Manchester United midfielder relieved of his duties at Bloomfield Road but the actions of the board didn't stop the rot at Blackpool and they have only managed two wins since. 

The Seasiders have received a whopping 10 red cards so far this season and are among the worst disciplined clubs in the Championship. With just six goals each, Ricardo Fuller and Tom Ince are the clubs joint leading scorers for the season. Ince has since been on loan to Crystal Palace since January and Blackpool have struggled for goals all season scoring just 35 in 41. 

Blackpool's last victory came at home to the side that is bottom of the form table for the last six games when they beat Huddersfield 1-0 at Bloomfield Road. The Tangerines have already held Leeds to a draw this season when they met on Boxing Day but defeat at Elland Road could see them slip into the bottom three should Millwall win at home to Watford. 

The sides met on Boxing Day this season with a deflected Tom Ince effort ruling out Lee Peltier's opener. Blackpool had lost four in a row going into the festive fixture and after the draw went on to lose a further four in a row. This was the start of a string of terrible results for the Whites as they have won just three games since. 

Leeds have beaten Blackpool just once in the last five meetings with Blackpool in the Championship with the Seasiders taking victories on three occasions, including a 5-0 hammering at Elland Road. That was a night to forget for Whites fans but they will never forget Paul Rachubka for all the wrong reasons. 

Blackpool have won just three away games all season but Leeds have lost their last two at home. The game on Saturday is the first at home for the Whites since Massimo Cellino took over the club and the fans are appealing to make Elland Road as full as possible as a thank you to the Italian.

The last time the sides met at Elland Road the Whites took all three points as Norris and Morison ensured Paul Ince wasn't going to have a comfortable start to his new job. Leeds will be hoping for a repeat this time around to cushion themselves from the relegation scrap. 

The travelling fans at Watford let the team know what they think of them as they sang "you don't deserve your wages" in unison and later, quite rightly, booed the side off the pitch. The fans have been there in their thousands up and down the country this season but the players haven't been turning up until the game is out of reach. 

Brian McDermott said he can no longer defend his players performances in the media as the side have been on the back of a number of heavy defeats. The club were in the play-off mix heading into Christmas but are now looking over their shoulder at the sides below them. 

Saturdays game will kick off at 15:07 as a mark of respect to the victims of the Hillsborough disaster in which 96 Liverpool fans lost their lives on April 15, 1989.

YNWA - JFT 96- MOT 

Last meeting: December 26, 2013, Blackpool 1-1 Leeds United (Peltier)

At Elland Road: February 20, 2013, Leeds United 2-0 Blackpool (Norris & Morison) 
Last five league games: Leeds United LLLLL
Blackpool - WLDLL 

Latest results - Watford 3-0 Leeds United / Blackpool 1-3 Derby County

Pictures courtesy of - Sky Sports, Daily Mail, Football 365 & the Express

Leeds travel to Watford after four defeats in a row.

Leeds travel to Watford on Tuesday night following the news that Massimo Cellino has won his appeal and been given permission to take over the Whites. Leeds form on the pitch has been awful, but hopefully the good news will inspire the players to end the season on a high. 

Leeds suffered a 1-0 defeat in the lunch time kick off at Wigan on Saturday but showed more desire than they have throughout the rest of 2014. Brian McDermott's side put in a good shift but lacked in the final third, a common theme throughout the Whites season which has seen them heavily rely on 27-goal Ross McCormack. 

Brian McDermott has been calling for stability at the club for months and hopefully Massimo Cellino's arrival at the club will provide that. Cellino had sacked McDermott on the final day of the January transfer window so who knows what's to come for the current Whites boss. Just three wins in 20 games would be enough to see any manager fired in different circumstances. 

Watford have had an inconsistent season which has left them in 12th place, 10 points from the play-offs. Head coach Giuseppe Sannino summed the Hornets season up when after the Burnley game he said: "This game perfectly reflects Watford's season. The last 10 minutes we always throw away everything we do."

Troy Deeny has bagged 17 goals for Watford this season in the league and is their top scorer. After a play-off final defeat to Crystal Palace last May, Watford started the season well but have managed back-to-back wins on just three occasions this season with just four away wins all season letting them down. 

The Hornets still have a game in hand on the teams around them but would need to win the majority if not all of their games to be in with a slight chance of the play-offs. Trips to play-off hopefuls Derby and QPR as well as relegation battling Millwall and Charlton means the Hornets have a very tricky run in and may have to settle for mid-table this season. 

Last season Leeds went to Vicarage Road with nothing to play for but a Watford win would have seen them clinch the second automatic promotion spot to the Premier League. A last minute McCormack winner for Leeds meant Watford had to go through the play-offs in which they were beaten in the final by Crystal Palace.

Earlier in the season, Leeds came from 2-0 to go 3-2 up at Elland Road against the Hornets, only to concede again with the thriller ending 3-3. The draw started a run of just two home wins in 11 for the Whites which has contributed to their massive slide down the league table. 

Since the 2006 play-off final which Watford won 3-0, the Whites haven't lost at Vicarage Road. Two wins and a draw for Leeds in the last three meetings at Watford means the Hornets haven't beaten the Whites at home since a Coca-Cola League Cup game in 1992. 

Leeds haven't won away from home since a wind assisted victory over Yeovil on February 8 and have since gone six games away from Elland Road without a win. Watford have won the majority of their games at home and Vicarage Road can be a difficult ground for any team to go to. 

Last meeting: December 7, 2013, Leeds United 3-3 Watford (Pugh, Smith, McCormack) 
At Vicarage Road: May 4, 2013, Watford 1-2 Leeds United (Poleon, McCormack)  
Last five league games: Watford - WLDWD
Leeds United - WLLLL 

Latest results - Watford 1-1 Burnley / Wigan Athletic 1-0 Leeds United 

Pictures courtesy of: Inside Soccer World, Yorkshire Evening Post, BBC & Leeds United

Leeds head to play-off hopefuls Wigan in search of a first away win since February.

Leeds travel to the DW Stadium on Saturday to face an inform Wigan side who have lost just once in their last 13 games in all competitions. The Whites suffered yet another defeat when they were beaten 1-0 at home by struggling Charlton making it six defeats in seven. 

Ross McCormack missed a penalty in the dying seconds in the defeat to the Addicks which leaves the Whites 12 points from the relegation zone. Brian McDermott said after a number of fans called for him to resign: "They won't see me resigning. No way, absolutely no way. It's a joke really when I think about it". 

Leeds have now lost six of the last seven with over half of the defeats coming at home. Bolton, Reading, Doncaster and Charlton have left Elland Road with three points while the Whites have picked up just six at home since the turn of the year. 

Wigan are in fine form and for the second season running have an FA Cup semi-final to look forward to. The Latics have lost on just two occasions at home this season and currently sit in 5th place, six points clear of the chasing pack. 

The in-form side are the current FA Cup holders and haven't let their impressive run in this years competition ruin their chances of an immediate return to the Premier League. The Latics have also juggled European football this season which looked to be holding them back earlier in the campaign. 

Having not lost a home game since December 1, Wigan have risen from 14th to 5th in the table and have picked up some impressive victories on the road. Owen Coyle was replaced with Uwe Rosler and the German has inspired the Greater Manchester side to a play-off place with seven games to go. 

The clubs top scorer is on-loan Nick Powell who has seven league goals this season. If the Latics win the televised fixture they could move to within a point of Derby in 4th and a further three clear of Nottingham Forest in 7th. 

The sides have already met this season with Leeds taking all three points in a 2-0 victory at Elland Road in December. The clubs have only met six times in the past with two of each possible result occurring. (Leeds 2 Wigan 2 Drawn 2)

Leeds' last trip to the DW in the league saw them lose 3-0 to a Wigan side that would go on to reach the Premier League the same season. Due to the lack of fixtures between the teams. Leeds haven't won at Wigan since an FA Cup win in 1987. 

Ross McCormack's missed penalty prevented him from adding his 28th of the season and pretty much summed up the situation Leeds are in at the minute. The club has still only paid 65% of the players wages and, as over used as the excuse is, it is affecting the players performances on the pitch. Many fans would argue the sides performances were below par before the takeover bid came in from Cellino in an eventful weekend that saw McDermott sacked and reinstated. 

Three wins in 20 games has left Leeds fans checking the fixtures of other teams around them as the fear of relegation takes its hold. The club may have secured enough points for survival but the talk of a points deduction accompanied with dismal form has left fans feeling the pressure. 

Three points for the Whites will put them on 50 in total and hopefully see them remain a Championship club for at least another season. Wigan are in form and a recent defeat to QPR at Loftus Road is their only loss in their last thirteen. 

Last meeting: December 4, 2013, Leeds United 2-0 Wigan Athletic (McCormack x2)
At the DW Stadium: February 19, 2005, Wigan Athletic 3-0 Leeds United  
Last five league games: Wigan Athletic - DWLDD 
Leeds United - LWLLL 

Latest results - Wigan Athletic 2-2 Leicester City / Leeds United 0-1 Charlton Athletic 

Pictures courtesy of: The Telegraph, Daily Mail, Manchester Evening News & The Scratching Shed.