McDermott counting on positive outcome

The focus will return to football this lunchtime as United travel to Yeovil Town for a Championship contest that will be shown live on Sky TV.

After a difficult period that 
included the 52-year-old missing last week’s derby win over Huddersfield Town, McDermott is eagerly looking forward to being at the helm once more. He expects a siege mentality to again be to the fore.

“There is a bit of that going on,” said McDermott. “You can sense that around the place.

“Players are really resilient. You have to admire them. You saw the resilience on Saturday and you saw how much they wanted to play for us and the fans.

“You can do as much talking as you like, but the proof of the pudding is on the pitch.

“You only find out about people and your football club during times of adversity. It is how you come out of it, and do you come out of it stronger?

“We don’t want that adversity around the place, but the fans are the most resilient set of people I have ever met in my life.

“I would like to think a good thing will come out of this. I’m absolutely very positive.

“There have been times in the last couple of weeks where I have thought ‘this is not right’. I am sitting here now looking ahead and thinking positively.”

The 5-1 derby win over Huddersfield brought to an end an eight-game wait for three points. During that time, United had slipped from the play-off places to mid-table.

On today’s trip to flood-hit Somerset, McDermott said: “Football is what we want to be talking about now, not all the other stuff.

“Hopefully, the ownership situation sorts itself out. We then all go in the same direction and get some stability back here.

“I know Yeovil really well. I was assistant manager there and the supporters are really passionate.

“Yeovil is similar to Leeds in that most people in Yeovil support Yeovil. They have got great fans and Leeds are coming to town. It’s a big game. It’ll be a really good atmosphere.

“There’s always expectation whenever Leeds play.”