David Prutton: Why the time is now for Leeds United to seal promotion back to Premier League

Pablo Hernandez celebrates scoring the winning goal in the 1-0 victory at Sheffield United in December. Picture: Simon Hulme

LEEDS UNITED’S performance in Tuesday night’s 3-0 win at Reading was fantastic as were their goals.

But now it’s all about tomorrow’s Championship derby against Sheffield United at Elland Road. It goes without saying it is a massive game.

The points on offer are the most important thing but, maybe psychologically, the blow that it would deal to whoever comes off worse could definitely be something to keep an eye on between now and the end of the season.

Either way, it is a really fascinating match between two sides that, at their best, have been the very best this year.

There is plenty of respect between the two sides, as we saw in the lead up to the first game at Bramall Lane back in December.

It is also great from an entertainment point of view to see three teams in the running for the two automatic promotion places, with Norwich City currently in the box seat.

It means that every single point is vital, starting with tomorrow which will be a real test of Leeds’ nerve coming in off the back of three terrific wins against West Brom, Bristol City and Reading.

At one stage, Leeds and Norwich looked set to pull away at the top but Sheffield United have done so well to keep up with the pace.

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What Norwich have done is also phenomenal, really, with the players they have got and how they have managed to come together. There is still a long way to go but they are looking good for the title.

But that is where the extra motivation for Leeds should come in.

From a Leeds fan’s point of view, they will be hoping that all this excellent football that they have managed to produce and create won’t go to waste and that instead it will end up with one of those automatic promotion spots.

Because if a team misses out on the top two then there becomes a question mark about both their momentum and mentality going into the play-offs – that is what Leeds will be wanting to do their utmost to avoid.

Leeds United fans applaud Alan Smith and Ian Harte at Stamford Bridge on May 15, 2004 - Leeds' last Premier League game which Chelsea won 1-0. Picture: PA.

Victory for Leeds would take them five points clear of Sheffield United with eight games left but that would only be a significant margin if Leeds manage to maintain that pace.

We saw a few weeks ago where Leeds had two very good results in beating Swansea and Bolton, but then they went down to QPR and lost.

They have got to be very wary of that but in the last three games we have seen three different ways of winning, blowing a team away in West Brom, rigorous and well thought out structurally at Bristol City and then being really expansive and expressive in the midweek win against Reading.