MONK: MY BLOKES WON’T CHOKE
Leeds’ play-off bid cannot go for a Burton
GARRY MONK is convinced his Leeds players have the bottle to win their promotion battle.
Just three weeks ago, Monk’s rejuvenated side were looking nailed on for a top-six finish and eyeing a Premier League return after 13 years.
Since then five games have brought three defeats and a meagre return of four points, sending them sliding out of the play-off places for the first time in five months.
But as they head to a showdown with relegation-threatened Burton this afternoon, a defiant Monk is backing his troops to bash the critics who are suggesting Elland Road nerves are fraying at just the wrong time.
He said: “I don’t envisage us missing out on the play-offs because, knowing them as I do, I think the players can cope with the mental pressure of the challenge we are facing. You just have to release the pressure, let it all go, it’s as simple as that.
“I said that to the players after Wolves came to our place and won 1-0 on Easter Monday – and you will see a response at Burton.
“No one will be giving up, we don’t have that mentality.
“There is no reason why we should, because we are in a fantastic position and we are going to fight with everything we have in the next three games. “We can’t control what others around us do, all we can do is control what we do.
“I am confident we’ll give absolutely everything we have and, if we do that, I’m convinced it will be good enough.”
Monk admits that his side’s recent run of poor results has taken him by surprise. He said: “It wasn’t meant to happen at this stage of the season. But I am 100 per cent confident that we’ll bounce back from this.
“Our first-half against Wolves was the worst 45 minutes we have had this season, and the group know they cannot afford to let that happen again.
“They also know that this is no time to feel sorry for ourselves, and I guarantee we shall stick together and give it our very best shot.
“We’ve got three games left, and I know we are well capable of winning them all,” added Monk. “The players must approach these three games as though they are the biggest of their lives. I’m sure they will do that.
“No one expected us to be where we are at this stage of the season.
“Now the lads have got to produce their maximum and show what they are capable of. I believe they are ready for the challenge.”