‘Dwindled’ – Leeds United cult hero sums up season perfectly but hints at ‘big picture’

“It was a disappointing end to an otherwise fantastic season.” These were the words of former Leeds United striker Jermaine Beckford after the club missed out on automatic promotion.

The Whites looked to move into the top two during the international break. But key players have been injured and Beckford’s old club have lost their way in the game, winning just two of their last eight games to finish third in the Championship behind Leicester City and Ipswich Town.

Now the dreaded play-offs loom for United, who have failed to win in the knockout format in five previous attempts. The first leg of their semi-final against Norwich City takes place on Sunday with a midday kick-off.

Read more: How Leeds United stack up against Championship play-off rivals with promotion on the line

Beckford told Sky Sports: “To be able to hit the 90-point mark is a phenomenal achievement, especially when you look at the number of players that were leaving at the start of the season, a slow start to the season in the first five games. I think there was only one win.

“It’s shortened the season a bit and Daniel Farke will be a bit disappointed with that. But the big picture is that the players have eight days, I think it’s seven/eight days off before the next game, before the first. play-off stage and will do everything possible to make sure that each of them is more than focused and ready to go for that match.”

United’s defense is a big concern going into the play-offs. They have scored 10 goals in their last four outings.

“It’s just individual errors, so luckily it’s something that can be easily corrected,” insisted Beckford. “You look at Leeds United’s defensive record throughout the season; they were absolutely phenomenal, 19 clean sheets, one of the best defensive records in the league.

“But having said that, the last five or six games have been a bit disappointing in terms of goals conceded. This is an area that Daniel Farke will certainly look to improve, get the players to focus on themselves. Defensive elements because offensively, on the front foot, Leeds United are scoring goals, so they don’t have to look at that, being a perfectionist, they will want to make sure they score a lot more goals than they have in the last few games, in special.”