Leeds United happy to still be in contention

Ross McCormack in action against Yeovil.

A 2-0 win against Yeovil at Elland Road last Saturday – courtesy of a double from Ross McCormack – lifted the Whites up to eighth place in the table and despite the recent setbacks on their travels they are only three points off a play-off place.

Even with their latest win United have only picked up nine points from their last eight games, which is hardly promotion form, but so competitive is the division once again that they are still in the hunt despite their lack of consistency.

Leeds boss McDermott revealed that this was actually his best start to a season as a manager so he is happy to see the Whites simply in contention at this stage.

He said: “If we there or thereabouts at the end of December and get some momentum going, you never know what can happen in this league.

“We have some good young players who are learning all the time and we are close to where we want to be.

“I believe we are right in the mix. A lot of teams are struggling to find their feet and I would say that we not at the level that I know we will get to.

“It was a tough game (against Yeovil) and there was not much football played in the first half. In the Championship you have to grind it out at times and we did that. After the second goal we could have gone on to double our score, but we are happy with a clean sheet.”

McDermott now has to put his thoughts to how he can help turn the away form around with Leeds on their travels to Charlton this Saturday looking to avoid a fifth straight away loss in the league and sixth in all matches.

He may be helped by having Sam Byram back to play in the right wing-back role that suits his game well. The youngster was forced to sit out the Yeovil match through injury and was definitely missed, but McDermott said that it had been touch and go whether he had been available and there was a reasonable chance he would be fit again for the Charlton trip.

However, United look like being without left-back Stephen Warnock who had to be taken off in the first half last Saturday and left the ground with a protective boot on a foot.