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Albion must take care of Beckford threat
Put your money on Leeds for promotion. That is the message from a play-off rival beaten by both the Yorkshiremen and Albion this month.
The Seagulls won 2-1 at Walsall and Richard Money's men lost to a Jermaine Beckford brace at Elland Road last Saturday.
Money was impressed by Gary McAllister's side and their attacking spearhead.
"At the end of the day, the centre-forward was the difference between the teams," he said.
"We couldn't handle a very good player, who's obviously too good for this division.
"I would think he'll go into the Championship with Leeds next year and possibly into the Premiership with Leeds the following year. They should go up.
"We lost to a better team, plain and simple. Swansea are the best team in the division and Leeds have to be the second best team in the division.
"If they play like that against the other promotion contenders, I don't see any problems for them."
Albion and Leeds' other remaining opponents will, of course, have other ideas. The Seagulls play their ninth match in 29 days at Elland Road tomorrow, an exhausting schedule.
The run-in for United is not quite as hectic as that but it is busy and tough enough with seven games in 33 days, starting with next Tuesday's rearranged fixture at Doncaster, followed by a trip to Leyton Orient and the visit of Carlisle.
McAllister has plenty of strength in depth to cope with injuries and suspensions. Former Albion winger Seb Carole and ex-Stockport striker Anthony Elding scored for a reserve team packed with first-team experience against Lincoln in midweek.
Injury-hit Irish midfielder Jonathan Douglas came through an hour-long run-out following his first senior outing for almost three months as a late substitute against Walsall.
Douglas will have to settle for a watching brief again on Saturday, because McAllister is satisfied with the current form of his four-man engine room. Neil Kilkenny, David Prutton, Jonathan Howson and Bradley Johnson have operated together in the last five games.
McAllister said: "There are ten midfielders here and we've got a quality bunch for this level of football. I'm obviously disappointing a few of them.
"The four who are in possession at the moment are going to be hard to shift if they keep this form going but I'm sure Jonathan has got a big part to play from now until the end of the season.
"He's been wanting to be in and around the squad and now he's back it's a big plus for us."
Another big plus for McAllister was the clean sheet against Walsall, which marked the return at left-back of Leicester's on-loan Republic of Ireland under 21 international Alan Sheehan.
McAllister said: "He arrived here and it was clear after a couple of games that the jump from reserve-team football and inactivity to first-team football was just a bit too much for him. But he's buckled down and worked extremely hard, doing a lot of work in the afternoons.
"We're going into a crucial part of the season and you look for characters, people with the right mentality, and people who can cope. I'm backing my players. I think they've got it."
Can Albion shut out Beckford?
6:08pm Thursday 27th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: James, Brighton on 7:25pm Thu 27 Mar 08
If Leeds play no better than when they were at Withdean this season, we have a chance of a draw.
I attended that match as i hoped to see a decent team, but was dis-appointed.
If Leeds play no better than when they were at Withdean this season, we have a chance of a draw.
I attended that match as i hoped to see a decent team, but was dis-appointed.
Posted by: Graham, Up North on 7:25pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Putting the ball in the net more times than the opposition....simple
!
If Albion continue playing as they have been we can keep their forwards shackled and hopefully our front two will give Leeds the headache and surprises. We have a reasonable record against Leeds, so onwards and upwards! The other teams in contention also have some tough fixtures.
Putting the ball in the net more times than the opposition....simple
!
If Albion continue playing as they have been we can keep their forwards shackled and hopefully our front two will give Leeds the headache and surprises. We have a reasonable record against Leeds, so onwards and upwards! The other teams in contention also have some tough fixtures.
Posted by: One eyed, UK on 9:37am Fri 28 Mar 08
James ... you should have watched the white shirts that day ... you were outclassed by a better team ... we should have had 5 ....
James ... you should have watched the white shirts that day ... you were outclassed by a better team ... we should have had 5 ....
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