Leeds United v Swindon Town: Victory paramount on emotional day at Elland Road

SIMON GRAYSON admits a maximum six point return from Easter has to be Leeds United's target after his side last night slipped out of the automatic promotion places for the first time since August.

The Elland Road club will host Swindon Town today in the unaccustomed position of sitting third in the table following Millwall's 1-1 draw with Brentford at The Den.

It means victory over the promotion-chasing Robins is paramount and with a trip to Yeovil Town to come on Monday, Grayson believes two wins can revive United's flagging promotion hopes.

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He said: "We have a big belief we can pick up maximum points this weekend, but you can only approach the first game and, hopefully, get a positive result that will set us up for the game at Yeovil."

Today is certain to be an emotional day at Elland Road as Leeds remembers the two fans killed in Istanbul 10 years ago on Monday.

Supporters Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight were both stabbed to death in Turkey on the eve of United's UEFA Cup semi-final, first leg tie against Galatasaray and a minute's silence will be held before kick-off.

A fund-raising dinner for the two families' nominated charity, Candlelighters, is also being held after the game at Elland Road when Grayson will be attending with his players.

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The Leeds manager said: "Saturday will be emotive with the anniversary of Chris and Kevin. A lot of people have worked hard raising funds over the past year for charity in memory of the two lads and there is a dinner on Saturday night.

"When I go over with the players after the game, I hope we can reflect on a good day."

United go into the meeting with Danny Wilson's Swindon Town on the back of a terrible run of results that have yielded just 15 from as many games in 2010.

Last week's defeat at Norwich City may have been unlucky with Leeds having battled gamely but it was still their third straight reverse.

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And Grayson has an appeal for the expected 26,000-plus crowd. He said: "Everybody knows it is easy to back a team when they are winning – our fans have been there for us, win or lose – but when we are losing they have to be a little bit more patient with the players.

"This isn't a Winston Churchill-type speech. It is just a bit of realism about what we are trying to achieve and how the fans can help us achieve it. I want to turn Elland Road back into a fortress again.

"Everybody is trying to do the best they can to get us out of this division. I expect the players to have a really good go.

"When players and fans join forces, opposing teams over many years have found it difficult to come here."