Leeds will be out to assist Hull, maintains McDermott

LEEDS UNITED manager Brian McDermott has reassured Hull City that his side will be going all out to spoil the promotion party Watford are hoping to stage tomorrow.
Brian McDermott.Brian McDermott.
Brian McDermott.

The Elland Road club have little to play for at Vicarage Road other than professional pride after a disappointing season.

A win over the Hornets could bring a top-10 finish, but the stakes are much higher for 
Gianfranco Zola’s men, who must better Hull City’s result at home to Cardiff City to clinch second place and an automatic return to the Premier League.

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McDermott, who led Reading to promotion a year ago as champions, said: “Hull City have got a major thing to say about all this because they have got it in their hands. Hull are in the box seat.

“If you have got one game to go with promotion in your hands, it is all you can ask for as a manager. Steve Bruce is in the box seat because he knows that if Hull get the right result, they are up.”

United were thrashed 6-1 by Watford earlier in the season at Elland Road on an afternoon when the hosts ended the match with nine men due to Jason Pearce being sent off and Rodolph Austin being stretchered off after then manager Neil Warnock had made all three substitutes.

On Watford, McDermott added: “I know Gianfranco really well. He is a nice man, really humble, and he deserves the success he is getting.

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“He went there in the summer, changed the style and they have brought players in from abroad, particularly Italy.

“There was lots of talk about how that would go for them. But they have done well and he is a really top guy.

“I have got history in the Premier League and I know that if they invest wisely and get the right players then they can do what needs to be done.

“But at the very least they’re going to be in the play-offs.”

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Michael Tonge believes United could exploit the inevitable nerves that he feels will be in the Watford camp as they look to leapfrog Hull in the table.

The Leeds midfielder said: “It is going to be a tough game for us with their situation.

“They will be nervous, I don’t think they would be human if they weren’t.

“Obviously, if Hull win they will be promoted, but Watford won’t want Hull to get beat and not have taken advantage of that.

“They will be up for the game, I am sure.

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“But when there is so much riding on it, I am also sure they will be nervous. Hopefully, we can take advantage of that.”

United will be without El-Hadji Diouf and Austin through suspension after the duo were sent off in last weekend’s home defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion, Austin’s appeal against his red card for tripping Ashley Barnes having failed.

Sam Byram, who last weekend swept the board at the club’s Player of the Year awards night, will be another absentee after failing to recover from the hip injury that the teenager suffered during the warm-up to the Seagulls game.