CHAMPIONSHIP MARCHING ON TOGETHER

Bielsa demands fans make life Ell for Baggies

MARCELO BIELSA has urged Leeds fans to keep believing ahead of tonight’s crunch clash with West Brom at Elland Road.

Supporters are becoming anxious about the team’s Premier League hopes after a fifth league loss in 10 games with a 1-0 defeat at QPR on Tuesday.

That left Leeds third in the table and outside the automatic promotion places going into the showdown with the Baggies, who are one place behind them.

Boss Bielsa has called on fans to keep backing the team.

“They can make a difference,” said the Argentinian. “They always have a positive impact on the team’s performance.

“We always receive a positive response when we put in the effort and face adversity. Without the support of the fans, we wouldn’t be the team we are.

“They always come to the stadium and for each game this has a big importance for us. This must continue because every game between now and the end of the season is a big challenge for us.”

The pressure is building on Leeds, and Bielsa admits he was shocked by their defeat at Loftus Road, with QPR having lost their seven previous Championship matches.

West Brom will pose a huge threat having thumped Leeds 4-1 in November.

“The loss at QPR was not an expected one,” said Bielsa. “But it’s my obligation to overcome that sadness. The hope of winning the next game is a good recipe for that.

“It is completely natural to be sad after a loss. What is strange is when you aren’t.

“When you see the glass is half empty, you lose optimism. And when you see the glass is half full, you lose self-criticism. We need to have a balance between both.

“The right analysis is to look at the bigger picture – and that is we’re only two points off the top.

“Hopefully, we can come out with a positive performance and a better result than we achieved at their ground.”

SURPRISED Bielsa admits he was shocked to lose to QPR DERBY’S on-loan Leicester midfielder Andy King is out for the season after a freak ankle injury. The Welsh ace, 30, will see a surgeon after Nottingham Forest keeper Costel Pantilimon fell on him in Monday’s game. Rams boss Frank Lampard said: “It’s a bad ankle injury. He felt it straight away. It looks like ligament damage.“I can’t tell you exactly what it is but it’s going to take him out until the end of the season.”He added: “When it rains, it pours. He was going to be important for us.“It’s so disappointing because I was delighted to get him in – a good player and a good professional.”