Play-offs would leave Warnock ‘gobsmacked’

The Elland Road club are still in the hunt for a place in the top six after a week in which results largely went in their favour.

As Leeds won 1-0 at Millwall last Saturday, most of their rivals faltered. Then, Hull City’s defeat at Portsmouth on Tuesday also suited United, as did Leicester City and Middlesbrough dropping points from games they were expected to win.

It means that Warnock’s side sit just a few points adrift of the play-offs with seven games to go – a margin that is by no means insurmountable.

Despite that, the Leeds chief said: “I will be gobsmacked. I know people look at the table and I keep hearing people say, ‘Warnock’s a wily old character’.

“I am a good manager but I am not a miracle worker. I don’t walk on water. Although sometimes I feel as if I have.”

Warnock has made a point of playing down United’s hopes ever since taking charge towards the end of February.

The maddening inconsistency that blighted Leeds during Simon Grayson’s final few months in charge has been a factor in that, as has a belief that the squad needs improving to mount a serious challenge.

He said: “You have got to give everything for the cause, especially at a club like this. It is the bare minimum requirement. If we are below par then we won’t beat anyone, at the bottom or the top end of the table. We can’t be like that.

“Next season, we can’t have inconsistency like that. You might as well play roulette. Is it going to be black or red?

“You can’t be like that as a manager, you have got to know who is in the trenches with you, who you want behind you and who you don’t want behind you.

“It is quite obvious that we need ins and outs in the summer to get the squad we like.

“But there are still people surprising me and doing better than I thought.

“Likewise, there are one or two not doing as well.”

United are looking for their first home win under Warnock today after two defeats and a draw, a record that contrasts sharply with the two wins and two draws in four matches on the road.

He said: “We need to win. Let’s forget about it (play-offs) if we don’t win on Saturday.

“But then we’ll probably go and win at Reading and we’ll be going for the Championship or something stupid.

“You can’t lose a game 7-3 and get in the play-offs.

“Watford is as good a game as any as they are flying and I am not disappointed by that as it makes for a good game.”