Roberts: Leeds are the best team in the division. We deserve to go up

Tyler Roberts says Leeds United must show mental resolve to avoid successive promotion failures even though he is convinced they are the best team in the Championship.

A surprise 1-0 loss at home to third-bottom Wigan Athletic on Saturday cost them top spot in the division, prompting questions about whether their malaise is more than just down to profligacy in front of goal.

Despite their dominance, a 59thminute own goal from Pablo Hernandez,

deflecting in a Joe Williams corner, gave Wigan the victory.

“I don’t think you can look too deep into it. People score chances, people miss chances, teams have those days,” Wales forward Roberts said. “The boys know that we’re the best team in the Championship. We deserve to go up.

“We’ve shown that even last season and this season, especially with our performances, dominating game after game. So we know that we’ve got it in ourselves and believe we can get over the promotion line.

“It’s not so much about the quality and the talent in your squad, it’s also the mentality and being able to get through these days.”

Manager Marcelo Bielsa’s reluctance to change his line-up has frustrated some fans, after seeing more chances go begging, particularly from Patrick Bamford.

He left out new striker Jeankevin Augustin to give him time to adapt following his arrival on loan from RB Leipzig. But if he is the finisher Leeds so desperately need, then surely there was no risk in having him on the bench, and to see if he could take one of the many opportunities in the box that his side, and particularly Bamford, spurned.

Ian Poveda, the winger signed from Manchester City, was also an unused substitute.

Leeds visit promotion rivals Nottingham Forest and Brentford next, and Roberts believes the new signings will both be assets. “He’s powerful and when he’s in front of goal, a good finisher,” Roberts said of Augustin’s attributes.

“You can say Pat [Bamford] and him are different. He’s obviously a lot more … I’d call it raw and powerful. But then Pat does the pressing and he’s technically gifted, so there’s obviously pluses for both of them.”

Wigan’s defending was key to this win and left-back Tom Pearce, who joined Wigan last summer after five years at Leeds, said: “To beat a side who were top beforehand was a massive result for us.” Leeds United

Wigan Athletic

Referee