Roofe keeps the heat off
KEMAR ROOFE says the heat is off Leeds after a scorching win against Preston.
Winger Roofe set Leeds on the way to a victory at Elland Road that heaped the pressure on the rest of the play-off pack.
He said: “None of us are feeling pressure because none of us expected this at the start of the season.
“I guarantee that if you had asked everyone at the start of the season where they expected us to finish I don’t think anyone would have said the play-offs.”
Despite Roofe’s low expectations there is no doubt that Garry Monk’s team will be favourites to return to the Premier League should they clinch their place in the top six.
Roofe and Pablo Hernandez scored in the first half with substitute Souleymane Doukara netting in stoppage time.
Roofe, 24, added: “It was a massive win. We have always said we would never lose three on the bounce.
“It was disappointing to lose our last two away games but we showed character to respond.
“We would back ourselves to stay in the top six. We are a confident team, we work hard during the week and we don’t mess about, so as long as we take care of ourselves and do our job correctly we have every chance.”
Preston had defender Alex Baptiste sent off near the end and the defeat almost certainly ended any hopes they have of making the top six.
North End skipper Tom Clarke said his team can’t drop any more points if they want a play-off spot.
He said: “We have to win them all realistically and we will be going into the games with that mentality.
“We still have a chance and we can hopefully get a few more results and finish as high as possible.”