LEEDS UNITED manager Gary McAllister has called on a capacity Elland Road crowd to tonight roll back the years to the glory nights of the Champions League.

The Scot is hoping a partisan atmosphere can help his side take a giant stride towards Wembley when Carlisle United are the visitors in a play-off semi-final first leg.

McAllister spent six years as a United player so knows all about the club's support, but even he admitted to being amazed by the crowd of 38,256 – the biggest of the season in all three divisions of the Football League – that watched the last home game of the regular season against Gillingham.

He is hoping for a repeat of the decibel levels they produced tonight as Leeds look to evoke memories of successful times in the not-too-distant past.

McAllister said: "The fans are very vocal and it is clear they want it (promotion) as much as the players. They are like the 12th and 13th man.

"I played in front of this crowd, but I have also been back a few times since then such as when Leeds were in the Champions League. It (Gillingham) reminded me a little bit of that.

"Elland Road is a special arena when it is full. It was good to have the near 40,000 crowd last week because for a few of the guys who played against Gillingham, it was new. And those sort of numbers can rock you back on your feet.

"So, it was nice to have that dress rehearsal."

Carlisle last week returned part of their 2,000 ticket allocation due to slow sales, which means home fans will now fill all four sides of Elland Road with the visitors being housed in the South East corner.

This seems certain to crank up the atmosphere even further, though McAllister is mindful that his players cannot rely solely on the crowd during tonight's first leg.

He said: "We have got to feed them, rather than them feed us. We need to give them something to shout about.

"It is not a case of us expecting the crowd to take us over the line. We have to get on top of our opponents and give the fans something to shout about.

"Crowds affect players differently, but I feel I have players who, in the heat of the battle, will do the things I expect."

McAllister's words about certain players being inspired rather than intimidated by red-hot atmospheres certainly applied to himself during a successful playing career.

It was the Scot who famously silenced Ibrox by scoring for Leeds in the first minute of a European Cup tie against Rangers on a night when the Yorkshire club's fans were banned.

Even before he had joined Leeds, the Elland Road crowd were given a glimpse of his strong nerve when the then Leicester City midfielder almost de-railed the home side's promotion push in April 1990 by equalising in a game Howard Wilkinson's men had to win.

Happily for United, Gordon Strachan subsequently scored a late winner and the Yorkshire club went on to win promotion the following weekend with a 1-0 victory at Bournemouth.

McAllister said: "Atmosphere and big crowds affect people differently. I always felt, as a player, going into a full stadium was something that helped me. I used it to my advantage.

"It is why I want to affect Carlisle as a team and not rely on the crowd."

Jermaine Beckford's recent return to training has been a major boost for McAllister who admits to having known his starting line-up since the middle of last week.

He added: "This club needs and warrants football at a higher level. That is what we are trying to achieve, get Leeds back into the second tier. And then, one day, back into the Premier League.

"The players are very much aware they have won 27 games and they have every right to go into these play-off games with confidence.

"It will be tense, but it is who deals with that. I would be disappointed if the players weren't tense. It is using it to your advantage rather than letting it affect you that is key."


Last six games: Leeds United WWLWWW, Carlisle United WDLLLD.

Referee: A Bates (Staffordshire).

Last time: Leeds United 3 Carlisle United 2; April 12, 2008; League One.